Al Khor, Qatar: France full again Theo Hernandez’s hooked volley within the fifth minute gave the defending world champions a 1-0 lead over Morocco at halftime of their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The French, making an attempt to change into the primary group to retain the title since Brazil 60 years in the past, went in entrance when Hernandez benefited from a deflection and beat keeper Yassine Bounou with a excessive volley on the far submit.
France’s all-time high scorer Olivier Giroud went near including one other when he thundered a shot in opposition to the submit within the seventeenth minute.
Morocco, bidding to change into the primary group exterior Europe and South America to achieve the ultimate, suffered two harm blows with centre again Nayef Aguerd pulling out in the course of the warm-up and captain Romain Saiss compelled off within the twenty first minute.
They got here near an equaliser, nonetheless, on the stroke of halftime by means of Jawad El Yamiq’s bicycle kick which Hugo Lloris palmed away.
The winners will play Argentina within the closing on Sunday.