By In the World Cup semifinal on Wednesday, France defeated Morocco 2-0 to go to the tournament final against Argentina.
The French team-maintained calmness to overcome Morocco’s valiant effort and earn the chance to defend their title.
Theo Hernandez and substitute Randal Kolo Muani scored goals to advance France to their fourth World Cup championship game and give them a chance to become the first side to win the championship back-to-back since Brazil 60 years ago.
With an early sucker punch against Morocco and a decisive finish 11 minutes from time, they earned all their talented team deserved to advance to Sunday’s final against Argentina, which will take place after Lionel Messi’s team defeated Croatia 3-0.
“There’s emotion, there’s pride, there’s going to be a final step, we’ve been together with the players for a month, it’s never easy, there’s happiness so far,” said coach Didier Deschamps.
France found itself in an intense struggle as Morocco showed no mercy and created several opportunities of its own, going close to equalizing.
The world champions’ defence had to scramble many times, including a late goal-line clearing, and Morocco hit the post with a fantastic bicycle attempt.
However, finishing proved to be the game-changer, as the game shifted in favour of the world champions after five minutes.
France raced ahead and scored their opening goal through Hernandez, putting their opponents on the back foot.
To finish off a sweeping play began by Antoine Griezmann’s run down the right and a cutback pass that Kylian Mbappe first fluffed, he had to raise his left foot high and connect with a bouncing ball from a tight angle.
Mbappe set up the second goal by attempting to dribble past the Moroccan defence and then shoot, his effort being blocked but falling for Kolo Muani to tap home at the back post with his first touch after coming on.
Mbappe’s battle with good friend Achraf Hakimi was a fierce sideshow, but France might have scored at least two more goals in the first half when Olivier Giroud hit the post and missed from close range.
Morocco left the tournament with their heads held high, even though their unbelievable journey to the last four wasn’t to be continued in a fairytale style.
They will get a cheering welcome when they return home following Saturday’s third-place playoff because they were the first African and Arab nation to advance this far in the World Cup.
“We paid for the slightest mistake,” said Morocco coach Walid Regragui.
“We didn’t get into the game well and the second goal killed us, but that doesn’t take away everything we did before.”
The closest they came was when Hugo Lloris made an incredible stop after being beaten by Jawad El Yamiq’s superb bicycle kick just before halftime.
They were let down by their finishing touch or decision-making, but they nevertheless made several additional advances in the French defence.
Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss, the team’s first-choice centre-backs, didn’t survive more than 20 minutes due to the risky decision. Saiss walked off early, while Aguerd was declared out during the warm-up. At halftime, Noussair Mazraoui was dismissed.
“We had some injuries but that’s no excuse,” added Regragui. “We gave the maximum, that’s the most important.”
Again the majority of the crowd at the Al Bayt Stadium was willing them on but ultimately the gulf in class meant France was always in the driving seat.
