FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar: semi-finals
France – Morocco 2-0 (1-0)
Bull: 1:0 Theo (5.), 2:0 Colonel Muani (79.)
Formations:
France: Lloris – Koundé, Varane, Konaté, T. Hernandez – Tchouameni, Griezmann, Fofana – Dembelé, Giroud, Mbappé
Morocco: Bono – El Yamiq, Saiss, Aguerd, Hakimi, Mazraoui – Ounahi, Amrabat, Ziyech, Boufal – En-Nesyri
Referee: Cesar Ramos (Mexico)
The essentials in brief:
France reached the final against Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar. It is the fourth time that the Equipe Tricolore has played a final in a world championship. The team led by superstar Kylian Mbappe beat the surprise team Morocco 2-0 (1-0). The goals at Al-Bait Stadium in Al-Khour were scored by Theo Hernández (5′) and Randal Kolo Muani (79′).
The game in the ticker:
90.+6 minutes: Game is over. France advances to the 2022 World Cup final.
90. Minute: Six minutes of added time are displayed.
85. Minute: Resignation spreads among the Moroccan fans in the stands. France is too strong.
2-0 for France! Kolo Muani scores 42 seconds after being substituted
79′: TOO MUCH for France! Mbappé crosses the penalty area. The star striker shoots and the ball goes to Kolo Muani. The Eintracht professional scored 42 seconds after making it 2-0 against Morocco. This is probably the decision!
75. Minute: Hamdallah refuels in the penalty area. He plays a French or two. But he doesn’t finish.
70. Minute: Griezmann puts a great free kick in the center. Thuram lurks at the second post. He just misses the ball and he doesn’t bring the ball into the goal with all his strength.
63. Minute: The Moroccans are reacting with all their might. The Africans are safe behind, but continue to attack dangerously in front.
59. Minute: Morocco attacks French players harder in duels. Before Mbappé was on the ground, now Griezmann has taken him.
54′: great opportunity for Morocco! The ball suddenly enters the penalty area. Boufal’s cross touches En-Nesyri. The ball reaches Attiyat Allah, but he fails to complete his shot cleanly.
51. Minute: Amrabat frees Mbappé on the edge of the area. Referee Ramos from Mexico lets the game continue. The tackle went well but Amrabat hit Mbappé on the left foot towards the end of the play. Mbappé needs a short cure.
48. Minute: The Moroccans come out of the dressing room with great confidence. France must be careful.
46. Minute: Keep on! The second half has begun.
45.+3 minutes: The first half is over! France deservedly ahead, but only 1-0. Morocco is far from defeated.
45.+3 minutes: Ziyech sends a free kick into the French penalty area. Amallah just misses the ball. Lucky for France.
45. Minute: Three minutes of recovery appear.
40. Minute: Next corner from the right side. Griezmann carries the ball. Varane deflects the ball towards the near post. Almost finished.
Mbappe and Giroud lose two chances 100%.
36′: two great chances for France! First Mbappé missed the 2-0, then Giroud scored just beyond the left post on the sidelines.
34. Minute: First corner of the match for France from the right. Griezmann carries the ball. Fofana’s shot goes wide.
30. Minute: France have the game under control and secure themselves back. The Equipe Tricolore awaits a counterattack to save energy.
22. Minute: France is doing well, but Morocco has recovered. The Africans push wide, but Hakimi fouls Theo Hernandez.
Giroud thunders the ball against the left post
17. Minute: The striker Giroud runs away from his opponent. The French withdraw. The ball hits the left post! Lucky for Morocco.
16. Minute: Morocco continues to play forward happily. Ziyech’s weak right foot touches the ball. His shot is deflected.
10 minutes: Classy occasion for Morocco! Ounahi stops him with his right foot from 18 meters. Lloris needs to stretch.
1-0 for France! The defending champion shocks Morocco with a thunderbolt
5 minutes: TOO MUCH for France! Griezmann enters the penalty area from the right. His cross reaches Mbappé. He sticks to it. Morocco goalkeeper Bono deflects the ball wide. Theo Hernandez was spot on and maneuvered the ball into goal with an artistic lateral shot to make it 1-0.
4. Minute: The Moroccans have more ball possession in the first few minutes. When the French are on the ball, a heartbreaking concert of boos is heard.
3. Minute: Morocco does not back down. The Africans happily play forward and combine in the direction of the French half.
1 minute: The game is running. Morocco toasts.
7.55pm: First, the anthem of France sounds. Then comes the anthem of Morocco.
7.50pm: Both teams are ready in the players’ tunnel. It will start in a few minutes.
19:10: This is how Morocco plays.
7:00 pm: The formations are there. This is how France plays.
12:00 pm.: Hello and welcome to the Sportsillustrated.de live ticker. From 8 pm France and Morocco will face each other in the semi-finals of the World Cup. The winner meets Argentina in the final. We are there live.
Manuel Baum’s World Cup analysis
France: The French had a strong opponent who demanded everything from them. The English managed to remove Mbappé as far as possible from the game, so much so that a long-range shot by Tchouameni was enough to take the lead (17th). Against the ball, France played in a 4-2-3-1 attack pressing all the way to goal, before switching to midfield and situational defensive pressing. The team has been able to withstand the pressure of England admirably and is also dangerous in the opponents’ emergency phases, such as Giroud’s 2-1. That France too are vulnerable is demonstrated by the two penalties conceded after mistakes by Hernández and Tchouameni and by Lloris’ goalkeeping with mistakes in dominating the penalty area. But basically the most mature team in the tournament with exceptional mental strength.
In summary: mastery of all phases of the game, very few weak points, many dangerous players in goal
Morocco: The team deservedly reached the semifinals and did not concede a goal against the following teams: Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Croatia. In this regard, coach Regragui probably won’t change his basic order of 4-1-4-1. Focusing on defensive work, they manage to keep the spaces compact and pass very quickly on the flanks. Amrabat (11.2 km) and Ounahi (12.1 km) in midfield were impressive, as were Ounahi’s sprint values with 70 sprints and those of the full-backs with 60 and 65 sprints. Morocco had little ball possession (28%) and completed their attacks very quickly, so much so that there were hardly any phases of ball circulation. If they come forward in an ambush they have created a good formation in the box with lots of players and are also very dangerous on high balls with En-Nesyri.
In summary: almost impossible to overcome in defense, safe ball, great team motivation
Possible game scenario:
In the compact basic formation, Morocco will be deep in midfield/defensive pressing and will take away space from the fast wingers of the French. If Dembelé and Mbappé lose possession, there are opportunities on the flanks, where large spaces open up behind the players for Morocco’s quick advances. En-Nesyri will be a target player again, but he needs to secure the balls better and also exploit the few chances at the end more consistently. A special factor are the many players who were born or play in France and consider it a special honor in their career to win against the reigning world champions with a team from Africa.
France will have a lot of ball possession and will have to find solutions for a deep opponent. Deep runs that open up space could bring down Morocco’s defence, or horizontal clashes from the outside line could shift the chain and create space for Giroud. As a teammate, Hakimi will be able to neutralize Mbappé and force him back more often.
Central duel: Bono – Giroud Mbappé – Hakimi Amrabat – Griezmann
More sports news:
The 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar from November 20 to December 18, 2022. Germany with national coach Hansi Flick is hoping for the semi-finals or final of the World Cup. France is the defending champion. Here you can find all matches, fixtures and results.
FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar: here’s how you can follow the tournament live on TV and in live streaming from 20 November to 18 December 2022. Who will win the World Cup trophy? Can France defend their title? How is the German national team doing?
The 2022 World Cup begins in Qatar. Who will prevail and be able to call themselves world champion for the next four years? Sports Illustrated checks out all 32 nations and explains South American dominance and why France and England are losing ground.
