France ended Morocco’s World Cup dream as objectives from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani gave the holders a 2-0 win of their semi-final conflict and set up a showdown on Sunday with Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
It seemed like France would possibly make brief work of their opponents when Hernandez scored inside 5 minutes at Al Bayt Stadium, regardless of having a hostile crowd towards them.
But Morocco, the primary African and Arab crew ever to attain the final 4 at a World Cup, fought on regardless of shedding key gamers to damage solely to see substitute Kolo Muani seal victory for Les Bleus with a late second.
It will probably be France’s fourth World Cup final in seven editions and they’re hoping to develop into the primary crew since Brazil 60 years in the past to retain the trophy after they tackle Argentina at Lusail Stadium on Sunday.
That will probably be billed as a showdown between Messi and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe, however this match was not concerning the latter’s particular person brilliance.
Instead France’s victory was down to a crew effort towards a Moroccan aspect who will now face Croatia in Saturday’s third-place play-off.
Morocco had reached the semi-finals after beating Belgium within the group stage after which knocking out Spain and Portugal.
But whether or not they may repeat the feat towards the holders was one other matter, and coach Walid Regragui’s plans have been left in turmoil by a slew of accidents.
Having missed the quarter-final, centre-back Nayef Aguerd was recalled solely to withdraw on the final minute, with Achraf Dari stepping in.
Then fellow defender and captain Romain Saiss had to abandon his teammates after simply 21 minutes, and by then Morocco have been behind.
France have been met by deafening whistles when in possession from the large Moroccan assist however they silenced the gang with the early opener, Hernandez netting with an acrobatic volley on the again publish after Mbappe’s shot was deflected.
Remarkably it was additionally simply the second purpose conceded by Morocco at this World Cup and the primary scored by an opposition participant.
– Injuries pile up –
If the wonderful Azzedine Ounahi pressured a fantastic save from Hugo Lloris quickly after, there was the sensation that the night may rapidly flip right into a impolite actuality examine for them.
When Saiss let a easy ahead ball bounce over his head, Olivier Giroud broke away however his shot hit the publish.
Then when Saiss got here off Regragui deserted his again three and matched France’s 4-3-3.
Morocco completed the half strongly and almost drew degree when, following a nook, defender Jawad El Yamiq noticed his overhead kick tipped onto the publish by Lloris.
The Atlas Lions then additionally misplaced Bayern Munich left-back Noussair Mazraoui at half-time, however France had not been saved from health worries themselves.
Two of their starters within the quarter-final win over England, Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano, have been lacking due to sickness.
Les Bleus have been used to taking part in semi-finals on a knife-edge and their earlier three wins at this stage –- in 1998, 2006 and 2018 — had all come by a single purpose.
Coach Didier Deschamps took off Giroud and changed him with Marcus Thuram — son of Lilian — as Mbappe moved inside.
Kolo Muani then got here on for Ousmane Dembele, and with 11 minutes remaining he scored from his first contact, tapping in after one other Mbappe shot had been deflected.
The Moroccan gamers knew then it was recreation over, and so did French President Emmanuel Macron, standing to applaud within the crowd.
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