Antonio Conte admits he found Kane vs Lloris World Cup incident ‘really strange’

Antonio Conte has admitted that he found it really strange to witness Harry Kane taking on Hugo Lloris from the penalty spot on two occasions when England played France in the quarter-final of the World Cup.

Kane and Lloris know each other well on and off the pitch, having played alongside one another for over ten years at Spurs. There was extra pressure on the England captain when he stepped up for the penalty, knowing that France’s number one knows his game inside out.

While Kane managed to hold his nerve for the first spot kick, it was the Tottenham captain that won the mind games the second time around, with the Three Lions striker blasting the ball over the bar.

Conte suggested that it must have been difficult for the pair to go up against one another.

The Tottenham head coach told Football.London about the penalties: “It was really strange because on one side I had Hugo and on the other side I had Harry. But especially with a penalty, to have two teammates, one against the other, was not easy. I think also for the players it was really strange.

“When you are used to living every day in the same club, to face each other in a penalty is not easy. The first penalty was good and Hugo was disappointed. The second penalty, it was really strange, the first time I’ve seen two teammates against each other in a penalty situation.

“Your keeper and your striker, one against the other, twice, was really strange. But then I said, ‘Ok what happened happened’. I enjoyed the game. It was one of the best games of the World Cup.”

However, Conte insisted that there would not be any issues between Lloris and Kane when they return to Spurs.

When asked if there could be some slight tension among the pair, he responded: “Impossible. I have a group of really good guys. I am sure Hugo on one side was really happy but on the other side was really sorry for Harry.

“I am sure about this because we’re talking about two really good, sensible players. In this type of game, one dies and the other lives. No second chances.”

Spurs Web Opinion

There is no question of there being any tension between Lloris and Kane as the pair are both professional, and Hugo was one of the first to console Harry after the final whistle. I expect both players to start this afternoon’s clash at the Brentford Community Stadium.

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