Harry Kane’s costly penalty miss saw England crash out of the World Cup against France (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger believes Harry Kane’s standing in the England squad meant there was no option but to let him take a second penalty against France.

The Tottenham talisman had already beaten his Spurs teammate from 12 yards to bring England level 10 minutes after half-time.

Olivier Giroud’s header 14 minutes from time looked to have swung the contest decisively in the World Cup holders’ favour but England were handed a reprieve minutes later after Mason Mount was needlessly bundled over in the box by Theo Hernandez.

England skipper Kane didn’t think twice about stepping up to the mark again but on this occasion blasted his effort high over the crossbar.

‘He is so important to England that the dynamics in the squad dictate that nobody at that point felt it was appropriate to offer to take the penalty instead,’ Wenger told beIN Sport when asked if someone else should have taken on the responsibility.

Reflecting on a rare miss from the spot, Kane said: ‘I’m not someone who thinks too much about it.

‘I prepare if I get one penalty or two penalties in a game. I can’t fault my preparation or the detail before the game.

‘It didn’t feel any different, I felt confident taking it I just couldn’t execute it the way I wanted to of course it’s something I’m going to have to live with and take on the chin.

‘But all we can do is keep proud of each other and know the team is in a really good place and we have to try and look to the future.’

For manager Gareth Southgate it was another bitter pill to have to swallow but he refused to lay any blame at the feet of his crestfallen skipper.

He said: ‘We win and lose as a team, we let a couple of goals in and missed a few chances.

‘He’s been incredible for us and reliable in those situations, we wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for him.’

He added: ‘In the key moments you’re playing a high level game where chances are created. Most of time we were in the right place and we had more shots at goal than France.

‘We were here to try and win tournament and we had the belief we could. We showed in our performance against the reigning champion we could have done.’

MORE : ‘We were lucky’ – France hero Olivier Giroud reacts after knocking England out of World Cup

MORE : Harry Maguire and Gary Neville blast ‘joke’ referee after England’s World Cup exit to France

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The Three Lions skipper is usually flawless from 12 yards.