France beat Morocco 2-0 to set up World Cup final against Argentina
- Last updated: December 15, 2022 | 01:03
Theo Hernandez scores his team's first goal against Morocco at the Al-Bayt Stadium.
Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter
France lived up to the billing of the world champions as they ended the dream run of Morocco with a 2-0 victory in the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.
Theo Hernandez put the defending champions ahead in the fifth minute after Morocco failed to clear their lines and substitute Randal Kolo Muani doubled their lead in the 79th minute.
With the victory, they set up a mouth-watering final showdown with South American champions Argentina, who had already moved into the finals after beating Croatia.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, praised the Moroccan team’s performance in the Qatar World Cup.
Sheikh Mohammed said on Twitter, “Proud of the lions... Proud of the performance... Proud of the spirit... Morocco raised the morale of the Arabs in the largest international sports forum... Thank you, Atlas Lions.”
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, also praised the team.
Sheikh Hamdan said, “Thank you to the stars of the Moroccan national team... You honoured the Arabs with this exceptional football performance in the World Cup Qatar 2022, and you achieved pride for every Arab who knows that nothing is impossible with determination and ambition... The coming, God willing, is better for our Arab youth everywhere…"
Theo Hernandez put France ahead within five minutes of the kick-off. Kylian Mbappe got a pass and fired the ball into the goal but the Moroccan goalkeeper deflected the showed. Hernandez found the rebound and tapped the ball into goal post to break the deadlock and give France a 1-0 lead.
What Belgium, Spain and Portugal could not do in their 90 minutes of the play, France did it in five minute.
They penetrated the water-tight defence of Morocco. Before this game, Morocco has conceded just one goal in five matches and their steely defence became the talk of the town.
Morocco tried hard to score an equaliser and created many chances but could not convert them into goals.
Randal Kolo Muani, who substituted Osman Dembele, added one more in the 78th minute to extend the lead to 2-0.
Morocco had a dream run in the World Cup as they defeated much superior teams like Belgium, who were on the second spot on FIFA rankings, European champions Portugal and Spain, who were the top contenders for the trophy.
In their run-up to the semi-finals of the World Cup, Morocco garnered the support of the whole African continent and pan-Arab world.
They created the history with their performance and won the hearts of the million of fans around the world
But unlike other teams who lost to Morocco, France seemed to have prepared well as their coach Didier Deschamps has said that he would try to a find a chink in the Morocco’s armour.
France lived up to the billing of the world champions as they ended the dream run of Morocco with a 2-0 victory in the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.
Theo Hernandez put the defending champions ahead in the fifth minute after Morocco failed to clear their lines and substitute Randal Kolo Muani doubled their lead in the 79th minute.
With the victory, they set up a mouth-watering final showdown with South American champions Argentina, who had already moved into the finals after beating Croatia.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, praised the Moroccan team’s performance in the Qatar World Cup.
Sheikh Mohammed said on Twitter, “Proud of the lions... Proud of the performance... Proud of the spirit... Morocco raised the morale of the Arabs in the largest international sports forum... Thank you, Atlas Lions.”
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, also praised the team.
Sheikh Hamdan said, “Thank you to the stars of the Moroccan national team... You honoured the Arabs with this exceptional football performance in the World Cup Qatar 2022, and you achieved pride for every Arab who knows that nothing is impossible with determination and ambition... The coming, God willing, is better for our Arab youth everywhere…"
Theo Hernandez put France ahead within five minutes of the kick-off. Kylian Mbappe got a pass and fired the ball into the goal but the Moroccan goalkeeper deflected the showed. Hernandez found the rebound and tapped the ball into goal post to break the deadlock and give France a 1-0 lead.
What Belgium, Spain and Portugal could not do in their 90 minutes of the play, France did it in five minute.
They penetrated the water-tight defence of Morocco. Before this game, Morocco has conceded just one goal in five matches and their steely defence became the talk of the town.
Morocco tried hard to score an equaliser and created many chances but could not convert them into goals.
Randal Kolo Muani, who substituted Osman Dembele, added one more in the 78th minute to extend the lead to 2-0.
Morocco had a dream run in the World Cup as they defeated much superior teams like Belgium, who were on the second spot on FIFA rankings, European champions Portugal and Spain, who were the top contenders for the trophy.
In their run-up to the semi-finals of the World Cup, Morocco garnered the support of the whole African continent and pan-Arab world.
They created the history with their performance and won the hearts of the million of fans around the world
But unlike other teams who lost to Morocco, France seemed to have prepared well as their coach Didier Deschamps has said that he would try to a find a chink in the Morocco’s armour.
Starting line-ups:
France (4-3-3)
Hugo Lloris (capt); Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate, Theo Hernandez; Antoine Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni, Youssouf Fofana; Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe
Coach: Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Morocco (3-4-3)
Yassine Bounou; Jawad El Yamiq, Romain Saiss (capt), Nayef Aguerd; Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Noussair Mazraoui; Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal
Coach: Walid Regragui (MAR)
Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
Agence France-Presse