CNN
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Defending champion France ended Morocco’s 2022 World Cup dream on Wednesday due to a 2-0 victory on the Al Bayt Stadium.
Theo Hernández scored on 5 minutes with an acrobatic end, with substitute Randal Kolo Muani tapping residence late on as France reached its fourth World Cup remaining simply 4 years after profitable in Russia.
However Morocco, the primary African group to achieve the semifinal stage of the World Cup, can go residence with its head held excessive after working France shut earlier than Kolo Muani’s decisive strike.
France is the primary defending World Cup champion to achieve the ultimate in 20 years. Lionel Messi and Argentina now await as France seeks to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
“Right here we go once more. It’s simply a tremendous feeling,” France captain Hugo Lloris stated afterwards, per FIFA. “We suffered so much, particularly within the second half. We performed too deep and so they confirmed they’re not a group solely centered on defending. They know learn how to assault. They deserve lots of credit score for this World Cup.
“Now the final step, essentially the most tough.”
It felt like this semifinal was being performed in Rabat or Casablanca relatively than Al Khor, such was the help for Morocco.
Moroccan gamers had been cheered like heroes each time they touched the ball, whereas their French counterparts had been booed and whistled.
Not that France had been flustered by the vociferous help for Morocco on the Al Bayt Stadium and it didn’t take lengthy for Didier Deschamps’ group to take management of the match.
Antoine Griezmann – so good within the quarterfinal win over England – took benefit of a slip from defender Jawad El Yamiq to interrupt into the Morocco field, earlier than crossing in the direction of Kylian Mbappé.
The Paris Saint-Germain ahead, twisting and turning within the field, had two efforts at aim blocked by despairing defenders, however the ball spun to Hernández, who acrobatically completed to provide France an early benefit.
Remarkably, it was the primary aim Morocco had conceded from an opposition participant on the event and was the primary time the group had trailed at Qatar 2022.
Nonetheless, Morocco wasn’t flummoxed and minutes later Azzedine Ounahi drew a high-quality save from Hugo Lloris because the Atlas Lions grew into the match.
Olivier Giroud, who’s joint-second goalscorer on the event behind Mbappé and Messi, missed two wonderful alternatives for France to increase their lead.
First, his shot cannoned off the publish as he broke in the direction of the Morocco aim, earlier than the AC Milan ahead curled simply large shortly after Mbappé had been denied by Yassine Bounou.
Morocco’s riposte was El Yamiq’s good bicycle kick, which got here off the nook of the publish, inches away from giving his nation a route again into the semifinal.
After the break, it was one-way site visitors, with Morocco urgent for an equalizer.
Numerous instances Morocoo performed round a scrambling France protection, however between an errant contact or a last-ditch contact from a defender, the Atlas Lions couldn’t discover an equalizer.
Morocco pushed and pushed, however to no avail after which Kolo Muani – simply seconds after approaching instead – tapped residence a deflected effort to assert his first worldwide aim and make sure France’s place in Sunday’s remaining.
Kolo Muani’s aim was the third-quickest aim for a substitute in World Cup historical past, the Eintracht Frankfurt ahead scoring 44 seconds after approaching, based on Opta.
The aim seemingly took the air out of Morocco’s followers on the Al Bayt Stadium, although it continued to seek for a miracle again into the sport.
Having captured the hearts and minds of the footballing world, it was a tragic finish to Morocco’s aspirations. However having given reigning champion France a run for its cash, Morocco leaves the competitors realizing it has achieved extra than simply success on the pitch.
For France, an mouthwatering remaining towards Argentina at Lusail Stadium on Sunday will see Mbappé face his PSG teammate, Messi, as the 2 nations conflict to resolve the 2022 world champion.
Argentina is chasing a 3rd title, whereas Les Bleus is trying to grow to be the primary facet to retain the World Cup since Brazil managed the feat 60 years in the past.
A World Cup winner with France as a participant in 1998 and as Les Bleus’ coach in 2018, Deschamp stated that he needs his gamers to savor their achievements at Qatar 2022.
“Clearly this was an essential match. There will likely be one final one,” Deschamps stated, per FIFA. “It’s been a month we’re along with the gamers. It’s by no means straightforward.
“Nevertheless it’s been such a pleasure till now, and that my gamers, the group has been compensated for this success. We’re going to go after the title on Sunday.
“We’re going to take the time. I inform this to my employees and gamers: ‘Take each second within the day to actually recognize and savor the second.’ In 4 days, we’re going to play for a world title. We’ll get pleasure from it now and prepare for the final match of this World Cup.”
