France 2 – 0 Morocco

France arrange a World Cup closing showdown in opposition to Argentina as Randal Kolo Muani’s objective 44 seconds after coming off the bench helped safe a 2-0 victory over Morocco within the final 4.

Reigning champions France, searching for to change into the primary aspect to win again-to-again World Cups since Brazil in 1962, took the lead after solely 5 minutes when Theo Hernandez completed acrobatically from shut vary, however they had been made to work for his or her win.

Morocco, the primary African aspect in historical past to contest a World Cup semi-closing following historic wins over Spain and Portugal, had been roared on by one other partisan crowd at Al Bayt Stadium and subjected France to heavy strain, with Jawad El Yamiq placing the publish as they fought valiantly regardless of accidents to key gamers.

France, although, confirmed their event pedigree, defending resolutely then seizing their likelihood to kill the sport when Kolo Muani slid house Kylian Mbappe’s deflected effort on the far publish within the 79th minute, his first worldwide objective leaving the Moroccans heartbroken.

France now face Argentina, who beat Croatia 3-0 within the different semi-closing, in Sunday’s closing as they search to defend their crown in a contest which pits Mbappe in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain crew-mate Lionel Messi, whereas Morocco should accept a 3rd-place play-off to conclude their excellent event.

How France fought to victory

Morocco boss Walid Regragui had opted to modify to a again 5 to comprise France’s appreciable attacking menace however his plans had been instantly disrupted when centre-again Nayef Aguerd, listed as a starter having missed the win over Portugal by way of damage, was pressured to withdraw earlier than kick-off.

France instantly capitalised on the upheaval, their early objective created by the superb Antoine Griezmann as an El Yamik error allowed him to chop the ball again for Mbappe, whose shot was blocked earlier than falling to Hernandez to transform.

Hernandez’s effectively-taken strike made him the primary opposition participant to attain previous Morocco, who had saved 4 clear sheets within the earlier 5 video games on the event, and the Atlas Lions sought an instantaneous response on the different finish.

Azzedine Ounahi drew a nice save from Hugo Lloris with an extended-vary effort and Hakim Ziyech dragged one other shot vast, however France then went shut themselves when Olivier Giroud fired in opposition to the publish from Ibrahima Konate’s lengthy go.

Morocco had been dealt one other blow within the aftermath of that Giroud alternative when Romain Saiss, Aguerd’s normal centre-again companion and one other damage doubt earlier than the sport, needed to be taken off.

Still, although, Morocco continued to trigger France issues, significantly down the proper flank, the place Hernandez was usually left uncovered by Mbappe’s superior positioning, leaving him struggling to cope with the dual menace of Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi.

Morocco had a penalty enchantment waved away, with Sofiane Boufal deemed to have fouled Hernandez moderately than the opposite approach round, however France continued to threaten on the different finish, with the early objective forcing Morocco to take extra dangers.

Aurelien Tchouameni, scorer of France’s opener in opposition to England, created two alternatives in fast succession for Mbappe and Giroud, but it surely was Morocco who went closest earlier than the break, El Yamiq’s overhead kick coming again off the publish following a nook.

Regragui’s aspect completed the primary half strongly and picked up the place they left off within the second, pinning France again and, for the primary time within the event, dominating possession, however their opponents proved troublesome to interrupt down.

Konate was significantly spectacular having began rather than Dayot Upamecano, who was dominated out because of sickness together with Adrien Rabiot, and France had been additionally helped at instances by Morocco’s lack of ruthlessness within the field.

At one level, substitute Abderrazak Hamdallah appeared primed to attain however took too lengthy to get his shot off, with France’s second objective arriving not lengthy afterwards as Kolo Muani, who had simply changed Ousmane Dembele, and solely received his name-as much as the squad following a late damage to Christopher Nkunku, sparking wild celebrations.

Morocco saved combating, the good Ounahi firing over in stoppage time, then seeing a deflected effort fall to Hamdallah, who once more did not capitalise, however in the long run it proved a step too far for the Atlas Lions, who might be happy with their efforts nonetheless.

What subsequent on the World Cup?

France will tackle Argentina within the World Cup closing on Sunday, with kick-off at 3pm.

Morocco will face Croatia within the third-place play-off on Saturday, the sport kicking off at 3pm.

You can observe each encounters on Sky Sports’ digital platforms.

Mbappe units up Messi showdown

It is Argentina in opposition to France within the World Cup closing and meaning one storyline will dominate. Lionel Messi in opposition to Kylian Mbappe. The world’s greatest in opposition to the doable inheritor to his throne.

The pair, crew-mates at membership degree with Paris Saint-Germain, will go face to face for World Cup glory. Tied on 5 objectives on the prime of the scoring charts, it may additionally be a winner-takes-all encounter for the Golden Boot. Maybe even the Golden Ball too.

The stakes might hardly be larger however it’s undoubtedly Messi who wants it extra. The 35-yr-previous confirmed within the wake of Argentina’s semi-closing win over Croatia that Sunday’s recreation can be his closing World Cup look. His closing shot on the largest prize of all.

Mbappe, though 11 years Messi’s junior, is aware of exactly the way it feels to win it having carried out so 4 years in the past in Russia. Win once more on Sunday and he may have carried out it twice earlier than his twenty fourth birthday.

That could be a crushing final result for Messi, who has been in dazzling type all through the event, fuelled by a way of future and delivering arguably his greatest efficiency but in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Croatia in Argentina’s semi-closing.

Mbappe, in the meantime, produced his greatest performances earlier within the event, scoring doubles in opposition to Denmark within the group stage and Poland within the final 16. Against Morocco, as within the quarter-closing win over England, he exploded into life solely often.

Still, although, he, like Messi, appears to be like primed to take centre stage within the largest recreation of all. Will Messi crown his legacy along with his first World Cup in his closing look within the competitors? Or will he be thwarted by France, and a pretender to his throne?

What the managers mentioned

France boss Didier Deschamps mentioned: “It’s never easy but it’s been such a joy. We’re going to go after the title on Sunday.

“We’re going to benefit from the time. I inform this to my employees and gamers. Take each second within the day to actually respect and savour the second. In 4 days we’re going to play for a world title.

“You don’t lose, you just learn. You need to use those bad moments to achieve the target. The most important thing is to see the stars in people’s eyes when you celebrate and win.

“Your complete nation is behind you, your mates. I really feel very proud, it is a dream come true. I need to win much more trophies.”

Morocco’s Walid Regragui said: “The most necessary factor is to have proven face.

“We have shown that football in Morocco exists and that we have great supporters.

“We gave it our greatest. This loss does not take away all the pieces we gave earlier than.”

Griezmann key again for France

Mbappe confirmed his electrifying tempo at instances whereas Ibrahima Konate defended assuredly all through, however Antoine Griezmann was as soon as once more France’s excellent performer.

The Atletico Madrid ahead, persistently glorious in Qatar, produced one other massively influential show, creating 4 probabilities to take his general whole on the World Cup to 21 and put him again above Messi as the highest creator on the event.

“I know everyone wants me to talk about Mbappe and build up the Mbappe vs Messi battle in the final, but this has been the Griezmann show,” mentioned Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy. “He has been France’s standout player.

“He was completely in every single place on the pitch in opposition to Morocco. Everything they constructed up by way of assault got here from him. Some of their final-ditch defending was him. He is an unreal participant.”

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, in the meantime, felt Konate was even higher.

France attain fourth closing – Opta stats

• France are the primary nation to succeed in again-to-again World Cup finals since Brazil in 2002, and first European nation to take action since Germany in 1990.
• France have reached the World Cup closing for a fourth time, all since 1998 (1998, 2006, 2018, 2022). This is twice as many as some other nation on this interval.
• France’s Didier Deschamps is barely the fourth supervisor to guide a nation to again-to-again World Cup finals, after Vittorio Pozzo with Italy (1934, 1938), Carlos Bilardo with Argentina (1986, 1990), and Franz Beckenbauer with Germany (1986, 1990).
• France have received all seven of their World Cup knockout video games because the begin of the 2018 event. In World Cup historical past, solely Brazil from 1958 to 1970 (9) have ever had an extended successful run in knockout matches on the finals.
• Randal Kolo Muani scored 44 seconds after approaching as an alternative choice to France – this was the third-quickest objective ever scored by a substitute in a World Cup recreation, after Ebbe Sand for Denmark v Nigeria within the 1998 spherical of 16 (26 seconds) and Richard Morales for Uruguay v Senegal within the 2002 group stage (16 seconds).