Defending world champions finish Morocco’s World Cup goals and e book their place within the closing.
France have crushed Morocco 2-0 at Al Bayt Stadium to assert a spot in Sunday’s World Cup closing.
They may play Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who booked their spot with Tuesday’s win over Croatia.
In an end-to-end recreation on Wednesday, the defending world champions took their possibilities, however Morocco didn’t make life straightforward for France, with notable durations of attacking possession both aspect of the halftime break.
Theo Hernandez spoils Morocco’s celebration
Morocco pressed excessive early, however left gaps on the again. When Antoine Griezmann discovered one such house within the fifth minute, Morocco panicked. His effort was blocked, nevertheless it rebounded for Kylian Mbappe. Morocco franticly managed to get in the best way of his effort too, however failed to manage or clear it, and it bounced to Theo Hernandez.
Hernandez paused for a split-second, unhurried because the ball got here to a hanging top whereas goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was bearing down upon him, then leapt into the air and linked with the ball fantastically, sending it previous the keeper and into the web. It was the primary objective Morocco had conceded to an opposition participant on the World Cup in Qatar.
5 minutes in, and Morocco’s already robust job turned even tougher.
Morocco make France work
Azzedine Ounahi’s ninth-minute effort from 25 metres out pressured a superb save from a diving Hugo Lloris. Hakim Ziyech shot vast within the fifteenth minute after a candy breakaway from Morocco’s field.
However then it was France’s probability to counter, and Olivier Giroud smashed a shot into Morocco’s left upright.
With half an hour down, Morocco had one other good spell of possession in entrance of France’s objective, however once more Walid Regragui’s males couldn’t discover a manner by means of France’s defence. With seven blue shirts in their very own field at one level, not even Hakim Ziyech’s mazy back-and-forth probing run might quantity to something.
Simply earlier than halftime, an important supply from the nook by Ziyech ultimately got here to Jawad El-Yamiq. El-Yamiq, again to objective, launched himself into the air, connecting for a spectacular overhead bicycle kick that pressured Lloris to palm the shot onto the submit.
Two minutes later and one other nook for Ziyech. This was comfortably handled by Lloris, however gave the Moroccans a way of momentum. They had been getting underneath the pores and skin of the French, who promptly gave away two free kicks inside hanging distance. On the break, France had been forward, however Morocco’s Atlas Lions had been those roaring.
Hamdala goes shut
Abderrazak Hamdallah stopped twice as he neared France’s objective within the 74th minute, maybe second-guessing himself on this large event. Regardless of the purpose, it was one cease too many for Morocco’s greatest probability of a number of within the second half.
Mbappe, Thuram and Muani mix
Kolo Muani, on the sector for lower than a minute, couldn’t miss from two yards out. Mbappe managed to choose up a free Moroccan go in midfield, bringing it right into a congested Moroccan field. His shot bounced off Abde Ezzalzouli into the trail of Muani, who tapped it in. Recreation over.