France End Morocco's Fairytale World Cup Run
15 December, 2022
Defending world champions France will meet Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final after defeating Morocco 2-0 on Wednesday night.
2022 FIFA World Cup
Result: France 2-0 Morocco
Date: 14 December 2022
Venue: Al Bayt Stadium
French coach Didier Deschamps was forced to make two changes from the win over England, as Dayot Upamecano and Andrien Rabiot missed out through illness and were replaced by Ibrahima Konate and Youssouf Fofana.
Both sides looked lively early on, but it was France who broke the deadlock after just five minutes through Theo Hernandez's acrobatic finish after Mbappe's effort was blocked.
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The Moroccans looked to pull themselves level as Ounahi was denied by a fine save from HUgo Lloris while Hakim Ziyech fired wide from a tight angle after 17 minutes.The Atlas Lions were dealt a blow at the midway point of the first half as Roman Saiss was forced off with an injury and replaced by Selim Amallah.
The North African giants grew stronger as the half went on but were almost caught out on the counter when Hernandez turned provider to pick out Giroud who sent his strike wide of the mark.
With momentum on their side, Morocco went agonisingly close to pulling level on the stroke of halftime through an overhead kick from Jawad El Yamiq, who struck the upright with Lloris beaten.
Morocco came out firing in the second half went close to pulling level with France eight minutes, but Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate produced a couple vital blocks in the box to deny certain goals.
Deschamps opted for his first change just after the hour mark as Olivier Giroud made way for Marcus Thuram, while Morocco withdrew Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal for Abderazak Hamdallah and Zakaria Aboukhlal.
Thuram nearly made the perfect impact when he got on the end of Antoine Griezmann's free-kick, but the French forward saw his glancing header sail just wide of the upright.
It was another France substitute that got the second goal as Mbappe's superb run in the box ended with his shot deflecting into the path of Randal Kolo Muani, who slotted home at the far just 44 seconds after replacing Dembele.
Joules Kounde ensured the French walked away with a clean sheet after a vital block on the goal-line after some superb work by Abde Ezzalzouli down the left, as France held on for the win.
Deschamps' men will now do battle with France in the final on Sunday, as they look to clinch back-to-back World Cup titles while Morocco lock horns with Croatia in the third/fourth play-off on Saturday.
Source: www.snl24.com