Morocco’s hunger keeps on growing after becoming the first African and Arab nation to make it to the semifinals as they take on holders France at this stage of the World Cup. The winners will battle against Argentina in the showpiece final on Sunday, 18th November 2022.
Les Bleus scrapped out a 2-1 victory against England in the quarterfinals while the Atlas Lions continue their fairytale in the competition by beating Portugal 1-0 in the last four.
FRA vs MOR Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 14 December 2022 / Thursday, 15 December 2022
Time: 22:00 (AST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Al-Bayt Stadium, Al-Khor
FRA vs MOR Match Preview
Didier Deschamps was not wrong in his assessment of calling France ‘lucky’ to advance to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup after edging England 2-1 courtesy of a missed penalty from Harry Kane. The England captain drew level from the other spot-kick after Bukayo Saka was brought down by Aurelien Tchouameni inside the box, who scored a screamer in the first half to give Les Bleus the lead in the first half. Olivier Giroud produced his individual moment in the 78th minute to become the all-time leading goal scorer for France in men’s football and also the winning header of the game. The 2018 champions then escaped extra-time disarray four minutes later after Theo Hernandez mindlessly fouled Mason Mount in the box for Kane to balloon his spot-kick. The heartbreak for Three Lions came as a narrow escape but Deschamps is equally adamant to say that his team took their chances to advance to the semifinals. France have prevailed on the previous three occasions they managed to reach this stage in 1998, 2006 and 2018. In all of those, Les Bleus have faced familiar opposition from Europe yet a far trickier clash against Morocco awaits this time around. No side in this competition was able to breach the African nation’s defense so far which will be quite a test even for the most potent attack France possess. It has been 84 years since a European nation advanced to a World Cup final being the defending champions, Italy last triumphing in the back-to-back final of 1934 and 1938. Didier Deschamps’ men are desperate to prevent any more upsets in order to emulate that.
Morocco’s beloved head coach Walid Regragui has made it clear they will not rest on their first-ever semi-final qualification in World Cup history and will go for more. There is every reason for this giant-killing side to believe the coach’s words facing another uphill task against the holders France on Wednesday. The Atlas Lions has already suppressed the last trophy hope of Belgium’s golden generation, cost Luis Enrique’s job at Spain and ended World Cup dreams of Cristiano Ronaldo in his swansong competition. Youssef En-Neysri’s towering header backed by an excellent ever Yassine Bounou in between the sticks was the reason for the Portuguese star’s exit from the contest in the quarterfinals. The 1-0 victory ensured Morocco has kept the most number of clean sheets than any other nations in the tournament with four and Bounou becoming the first goalkeeper from Africa to keep three. The last two teams to have ever kept five clean sheets in the World Cup were Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010, both going on to lift the silverware of that edition. An unimaginable record for Walid Regragui’s side to fulfill. The Atlas Lions are unfazed by the tournament-winning experience of France and are set to put up a stern fight against them. After all, other nations from Europe have paid the price of not taking them seriously in this competition. Whatever transpires in the second semifinal of the 2022 World Cup, Morocco has become one of the greatest underdog stories the competition has produced in its history.
World Cup Form
FRA: WWLWW
MOR: WDWWD
FRA vs MOR Team News
France have serious doubts on two key members of the starting eleven in center-back Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrian Rabiot ahead of the clash against Morocco on Wednesday. The pair missed training on Tuesday due to illness. Should they miss out, Didier Deschamps has to turn to Ibrahima Konate and Youssuf Fofana instead. Otherwise, no changes are expected for Les Bleus in this crucial stage of the World Cup. Wirth another goal, Oliver Giroud will become the oldest player to score five goals in a single World Cup. Kylian Mbappe is also aiming to get back on the scoresheet to maintain the outstanding streak carried by Les Blues of winning all 10 games of the competition in which he has scored.
Check here France 2022 World Cup Squad and Team Profile and FIFA World Cup 2022: France - World Cup Records and Stats
Morocco coach Walid Regragui did not give a definitive answer on the availability of his players struggling with injuries before taking on the holders. Romain Saiss was unable to carry on with his strapped hamstring against Portugal, taken off just before the hour fearing a resurrection of the injury. He joins the doubt list with Naif Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui with only Achraf Hakimi the fit candidate from the back four that has helped them to the semifinals. However, Regragui has said the team have an excellent medical staff that is providing him with good news every day.
Check here FIFA World Cup 2022: Morocco - World Cup Records and Stats and Morocco’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile
FRA vs MOR Predicted Lineups
FRA: Hugo Lloris; Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrian Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe; Olivier Giroud
MOR: Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Naif Aguerd, Romain Saiss, Noussair Mazraoui; Azzedine Ounahi, Sofiane Amrabat, Selim Amallah; Hakim Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal
FRA vs MOR Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Bounou (7)
DEF: Hakimi (9), Kounde (7.5), Varane (8), T Hernandez (8.5)
MID: Griezmann (9), Amrabat (8), Rabiot (8.5)
FW: En-Neysri (8), Giroud (9), Mbappe (9)
Vice-captain: Olivier Giroud
Captain: Kylian Mbappe
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