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| Image: France players celebrate the 2-1 win over England |
Aurelien Tchouameni put France ahead through a sweet strike in the 17th minute before Kane drew the two sides level with a 54th minute penalty, but Olivier Giroud scored what proved to be a decisive header in the 78th minute.
Kane had the chance to become England's outright record goalscorer from the spot in the 84th minute, but it was yet more penalty woe for the Three Lions as the Tottenham Hotspur striker ballooned his second spot-kick over the bar.
It meant Gareth Southgate's side failed to reach a second successive World Cup semifinal, while France march on to the last four, where they will face Morocco on Wednesday.
PLAYER RATINGS
England: Pickford (6), Walker (6), Stones (7), Maguire (5), Shaw (4), Rice (7), Henderson (6), Bellingham (6), Saka (8), Kane (6), Foden (6).
Subs: Mount (5), Sterling (5), Rashford (5), Grealish (n/a)
France: Lloris (7), Kounde (6), Varane (6), Upamecano (6), Hernandez (4), Griezmann (8), Tchouameni (7), Rabiot (6), Dembele (6), Giroud (7), Mbappe (6).
Subs: Coman (6)
Man of the match: Antoine Griezmann.
HOW FRANCE PULLED OFF THE WIN
France got off to the perfect start when Tchouameni shook off a tackle from Declan Rice and struck a brilliant effort from distance which Jordan Pickford was powerless to stop.
There were calls for an England penalty in the 25th minute when Dayot Upamecano tangled with Kane on the edge of the area, but referee Wilton Sampaio waved away those appeals after a VAR review.
Southgate's team were given a way back after a strong start to the second half when Tchouameni brought down Saka for a penalty. Kane stepped up and sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way, equalling Wayne Rooney's all-time England record with his 53rd international goal.
England almost took the lead for the first time in the 70th minute when Harry Maguire rose highest from a free-kick, but his header skimmed the post with Lloris stretching.
France spurned a fine chances of their own seven minutes later when Giroud's volley was acrobatically turned away by Pickford, but the France striker made up for that with a thumping header from Antoine Griezmann's cross to put his side ahead.
It looked as if that lead would not last long when England were awarded a penalty for Theo Hernandez's barge on substitute Mason Mount following a VAR review. This time, however, Kane skied his effort in uncharacteristic fashion.
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| Image: Harry Kane looks on in disbelief after missing England's second penalty |
How England's World Cup dream ended
It was a dramatic ending to this epic first-ever knockout clash between these sides. It had begun with England looking nervy after the big build-up and the fear of France star Kylian Mbappe was plain to see when he was able to stretch his legs in the lead-up to the opener.
After a desperate challenge from Declan Rice, England retreated rapidly to their own area and there was then space for Antoine Griezmann to roll across for Tchouameni to crash an excellent strike into the bottom corner.
Team news
England were unchanged from the side which beat Senegal, with Gareth Southgate sticking with a back four
France also used the same XI from their last-16 tie, with Kylian Mbappe in attack after scoring twice against Poland
England complained there should have been a foul given for a challenge from Dayot Upamecano on Saka at the start of the move and there was more frustration with the officials and VAR when no penalty was awarded when Kane rolled the defender for a second time in the space of five minutes and tumbled on the edge of the area.
Kane tested Tottenham team-mate Lloris from close range and from distance as he led England's response but the threat of France was always there, with Mbappe firing over after a free-kick was worked into the box.
England had never won a World Cup match they were losing at half time, while France had won 24 of the 25 they'd led after 45 minutes - but Bellingham showed no respect for such records, driving England forward early in the second period before providing the wall pass for Saka when the Arsenal man was floored in the box by Tchouameni.
Kane, after being made to wait, eventually slammed home the penalty to match Rooney's milestone. A huge moment in his career and his fourth from the spot in World Cups - but one which would be overshadowed by another penalty to come.
The equaliser sparked a frantic few minutes, with Adrien Rabiot almost catching England asleep seconds after the restart when he forced a stop from Jordan Pickford and Mbappe turned on the afterburners to charge away from Walker, but the Three Lions refocused and were inches away when Maguire grazed a post with a header from Jordan Henderson's free-kick.
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