“Penalty is a mind game especially when you score”- Okocha encourages Harry Kane

Kane scored from the spot kick to cancel France’s Tchouameni opener and join Wayne Rooney as the joint all-time top scorer with 53 goals for England.

The defending champions will find a way to take the lead again through their veteran striker Olivier Giroud but comes another opportunity for the Three Lions to tie level with another penalty kick.

As usual, Kane stepped up to do it again but he blew the chance to draw his team level, as he blasted a second penalty over the bar and the Nigeria legend offers some encouraging words to the Tottenham Hotspur striker.

“I thought that he (Kane) was nervous. His nerves got the best out of him because penalty is a mind game especially when you scored one,” Okocha said on SuperSports.

“You start wondering should I go the second corner, should I change things and I think he was caught in two minds.

“But take nothing away from Les Bleus. They came with a game plan and I think it’s typical of this tournament,” he added.

“Teams have found ways to win games. They don’t care if it’s ugly. They will take the results and they (France) played for the result today,” the former PSG midfielder stressed.

The miss proved costly as France ran away 2-1 winners and progressed to the last four.

 “I’m always someone who prepares for if I get one penalty or two penalties in a game, it was just the execution on the night,” Kane said.

“The first was great but the second I just didn’t hit it right, so I just have to take it on the chin.”

France will next face Morocco at the Al Bavt Stadium on Wednesday.