Al KHOR, Qatar – France and Morocco will go to battle as they look to reach World Cup final in recent years when they face off in the second of the last-four clashes on Wednesday at 9:00pm CLT at the Al Bayt Stadium.
After putting Belgium, Portugal and Spain to the sword in Qatar, Morocco is looking to bring another soccer superpower to their knees when they face France.
Morocco, the first African side to reach the last four at a World Cup, will command ear-splitting support at the Al Bayt Stadium, and they will need every bit of it to beat the defending champions and continue their fairytale run.
The North Africans have ridden the wave of support throughout the tournament, crowds exhorting players to keep going as they emptied the tanks in every game.
After finishing top of a group that also included Croatia, Belgium and Canada, Morocco then knocked off the fancied Spaniards and Portuguese to reach the semis.
But whether they have enough to engineer an even bigger upset remains to be seen.
By their own admission, there is a vast chasm in quality between the two sides.
France is expected to attack, Morocco resist.
Morocco’s defense has been virtually watertight, conceding only once – an own goal against Canada – in their five matches so far.
“We are now becoming the team that everyone loves in this World Cup because we are showing that even if you don´t have as much talent and money then you can succeed,” said coach Walid Regragui.
“We have made our people and our continent so happy and proud. When you watch Rocky, you want to support Rocky Balboa and I think we are the Rocky of this World Cup. I think now the world is with Morocco,” Regragui added according to Reuters.
On the fitness front, they are likely to again be without key defender Nayef Aguerd (hamstring) and will be sweating on the status of skipper Romain Saiss, the other first-choice center back.
Morocco’s defense is set for its toughest test, up against the tournament’s leading scorer Kylian Mbappe (five goals) and Olivier Giroud (four) plus Antoine Griezmann, who was in sublime form in their quarter-final win over England.
An intriguing battle is also looming between Paris St Germain team mates Mbappe and close friend Achraf Hakimi. England kept Mbappe relatively quiet but often had to double-up on him down the left.
Morocco´s ability to use their right flank for counter-attacks, through a combination of Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech, will be limited if they are kept busy trying to stop Mbappe.
“It always comes down to a few details at this level,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. “Quality is not enough, but in this squad there is also mental strength, and a little experience.”
As Deschamps recognised, fitness, technique and tactics will, as always, be only part of the story. Morocco will have to go very deep to avoid “settling.”
Having broken new ground for Africa and themselves they know they are already guaranteed a hero’s welcome when they return home, regardless of the outcome on Wednesday.
France, in contrast, will consider it something of a disaster if they fail to deliver the expected victory that will keep them on course to become the first country to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil 60 years ago.
France is fully aware that Morocco is much more than a strictly defensive team.
Their quick transitions and comfort in possession of the ball have been highly impressive in Qatar and there is no chance the defending champions will take anything for granted at the Al Bayt stadium.
“We have enough experience to avoid falling into this trap (of being over confident). They’ve reached that stage for a reason,” centre back Raphael Varane, France’s vice-captain, told a news conference.
“They defend very well, it will be extremely difficult. We, the leaders of the team, have to prepare all the players for another battle. It’s a World Cup semi-final; you need to give everything until the end if you want to deserve your place in the final.”
Varane knows that Regragui’s team will be full of confidence.
“They’re writing Moroccan football history, they have a collective force with performances that give them a lot of confidence,” he said.
“They’re physically very fit; they’re dangerous on counter attacks and set pieces, too.”
Right back Jules Kounde, who will be tasked with containing Sofiane Boufal on the flank, does not need to be reminded of Morocco’s qualities.
“I’m not worried but we know they beat big teams to get there and we’re going to take it seriously. It’s not a surprise to see them here anymore. They deserve to be here,” he said.
“They’re very compact. They give very little time to the player who has the ball to get organised. You have to play fast and try to break their balance,” said Kounde.
“We’re well aware of their qualities. They’re very efficient with the ball, they combine very quickly to find their two wingers.
“What they have done is remarkable, only conceding an own goal, especially when you see the tams they played. We’re going to have to be very precise to score.”
Wednesday’s Fixture
France vs Morocco 9:00pm CLT
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