France is heading back to the World Cup Final and aiming to do something that hasn’t been done in 60 years – repeat as World Cup champions. France is making a return trip after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the semifinal.It didn’t take long for France to silence the overwhelmingly pro-Morocco crowd at Al Bayt Stadium.
The French striker Antoine Griezmann transferred the ball to Kylian Mbappu00e9 in the fifth minute after the Moroccan defence had allowed it to squeak by. He was surrounded by defenders but still managed to fire a shot, which he diverted to Theo Hernu00e1ndez. He climbed up and beat goalkeeper Yassine Bono Bounou with a soaring left-footed scissor kick to give his team a 1-0 lead.It was the first time Morocco had trailed in the tournament.Morocco’s defense and goalkeeping have been stellar this World Cup. Morocco hadn’t allowed a single goal by an opponent the entire tournament until the semifinal. They shut out European soccer powerhouses: Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. Canada is the only team credited with a score – but it was an own goal, put in the net by a Moroccan player.
Video Courtesy: Jio Cinema.
The Atlas Lions’ first-half goal wasn’t their only setback. Morocco made an early substitution in the 21st minute to replace their injured captain Romain Saiss (another defender, Nayef Aguerd, was pulled from the starting list just before kickoff also due to an injury).
For the remainder of the half, France remained aggressive. Olivier Giroud, the all-time leading scorer for France, had two excellent chances, one of which zinged against the left post.
The finest scoring opportunity for Morocco occurred in the 43rd minute. Everyone seemed surprised by Jawad El Yamiq’s exquisite bicycle kick off a corner kick, with the exception of French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who just pushed it away. Morocco started the second half with chance after chance after chance in front of the French goal. The pride of Africa played with renewed energy and enthusiasm and managed to keep the reigning champions on the defensive but they still could not find a way to score, but France did in the 79th minute, Mbappu00e9 zipped around the Moroccan defense and powered through a shot that fell to the feet Randal Kolo Muani who calmly kicked it in to give France a 2-0 lead. Kolo Muani had substituted into the game just a minute before.
Morocco was the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal and entered the match against France unbeaten in its previous ten games (7 victories, 3 draws). Additionally, they were the third country outside of Europe or South America to advance thus far in the competition (USA 1930 & South Korea 2002).
France had now advanced to the World Cup semifinals seven times. The first three were lost (Brazil 1958, West Germany in 1982 and 1986). But it won the following four (Croatia 1998, Portugal, 2006, Belgium 2018 and Morocco 2022).
Morocco still has one World Cup game left to play, which will be against Croatia on Saturday in the third-place match. The final is Sunday with France taking on Argentina and their star Lionel Messi who is seeking his first World Cup title.
Which team do you think will dominate in the World Cup Final – Argentina or France?
Comment down below.
