The match between France and Morocco became the second participant in the World Cup final, in which the Argentina national team is waiting. And although the defending champions were the favorites of today’s confrontation, the team from Africa ambitiously fought for victory in the promotion.
The Moroccan national team was the biggest opening of this year’s World Cup and the presence of Walid Regraga’s players in the semi-finals was a big surprise. And although the Atlas Lions knocked out Portugal and Spain on their way to the top four of the championship, the French were the favorite for the meeting on Wednesday.
France - Morocco. quick goal
The Tricolors took the lead shortly after the start of the match. In the 5th minute, Antoine Griezmann struck from eleven yards, the ball accidentally bounced off one of the defenders and hit Theo Hernandez, who beat Yasin Buna from a difficult position.
After scoring a goal, the current champions gained momentum and regularly broke into someone else’s half of the field. Those, in turn, made simple mistakes in defense, which led to more dangerous situations. Oliver Giroud came close to scoring in the 17th minute, but his shot hit the post.
World Cup semi-final. Morocco played better and better
The team from Africa, after an unsuccessful start to the meeting, began to warm up and from time to time tried to surprise the French defense line. However, she did not have enough accuracy in the key gear, which means that Hugo Lloris did not have to intervene for a long time. However, it was hot in sixteen Moroccans, where Griezmann tried before the break in the individual draw, and a moment later Rafael Varane struck on goal.
Morocco created their first 100 per cent chance in the 44th minute when a ball from the corner of the field hit the center of Jawad El-Yamik, who hit the post with a bicycle kick. After this action, the Atlas Lions went on the attack again, but before the break the score remained 1:0.
World Cup 2022. Flash Kylian Mbappe
Once play resumed, play became very open and both teams were looking for opportunities to score. In the 54th minute, Sofiane Boufal played from the right flank, Youssef En-Nesiri missed the ball, and Sofiane Ambrabat finished the action with a missed shot.
Morocco did not leave attempts to draw, while France played rather conservatively and did not force the pace. Didier Deschamps’ men relied primarily on Kylian Mbappé’s speed and dribbling, who was ruthlessly treated by opponents who tried to stop him. Regraga’s team tried flat passes from the right, but the well-placed Rafael Varane and Ibrahima Konate handled such a game.
When it seemed that Morocco would get its way and even the score, the French staged a spectacular action. In the 79th minute, Mbappe intercepted the ball from sixteen opponents, ran into the penalty area, dodged several players and shot, and the ball, rebounding from one of the defenders, hit Randal Kolo Muani right at the feet, who put the ball into the net.
Morocco, having lost the second ball, started with attacks and tried to score a contact goal. However, France controlled the course of the match and did not let themselves be surprised in defense, which until the final whistle of the referee kept the score 2:0. Thus, the Tricolor team reached the final, in which they will fight for the defense of the trophy with Argentina, and Morocco will play for bronze with Croatia.
Source: Wprost
