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 arrange a showdown on Sunday with Lionel Messi‘s Argentina. It regarded like France may make quick 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 staff ever to succeed in the final 4 at a World Cup, fought on regardless of dropping key gamers to damage solely to see substitute Kolo Muani seal victory for Les Bleus with a late second.

It shall be France’s fourth World Cup remaining in seven editions and they’re hoping to turn out to be the primary staff since Brazil 60 years in the past to retain the trophy once they tackle Argentina at Lusail Stadium on Sunday.

That shall 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 all the way down to a staff 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 might repeat the feat towards the holders was one other matter, and coach Walid Regragui’s plans had 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 needed to abandon his teammates after simply 21 minutes, and by then Morocco had been behind.

France had 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 put up 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 superb Azzedine Ounahi pressured a positive save from Hugo Lloris quickly after, there was the sensation that the night might shortly 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 put up.

Then when Saiss got here off Regragui deserted his again three and matched France’s 4-3-3.

Morocco completed the half strongly and practically drew stage when, following a nook, defender Jawad El Yamiq noticed his overhead kick tipped onto the put up 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, had been lacking because of sickness.

Les Bleus have been used to enjoying 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.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)

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