Defending world champions and title favourites France face African history-makers Morocco on Thursday morning (6am AEDT) in what is bound to be a high-octane World Cup semi-final on the Al Bayt stadium.
France, who defeated England on Saturday, wish to turn into the primary workforce in 60 years to retain the trophy however they’ll anticipate fierce resistance from the shock package deal of the event.
The winner performs Argentina within the last on Monday morning (2am AEDT), after Lionel Messi’s masterclass defeated Croatia within the first semi-final.
Morocco’s giant-killing run to the final 4, the primary time an African nation has made it this far, has electrified followers at dwelling and delighted the Moroccan diaspora in Europe and past.
The Atlas Lions will once more be roared on by 1000’s of passionate supporters within the stadium on the desert outskirts of Doha and may rely on native Qatari assist too as the primary Arab workforce ever to make it to the final 4.
“It’s not over but, our ambition is to go to the ultimate,” former Morocco worldwide Aziz Bouderbala, a part of the 1986 World Cup workforce that reached the final 16, advised AFP.
“We reside a historic second. We are among the many 4 greatest groups on the planet nevertheless it’s fabulous, it’s delirium.”
The sport could have added spice given France was Morocco’s colonial energy and over one million individuals with Moroccan roots stay and work within the nation.
UNDERDOGS’ INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
Morocco coach Walid Regragui, who was born close to Paris and spent most of his taking part in profession within the French league, solely took over the nationwide workforce on August 31.
Since then, he has radically reshaped the workforce into world-beaters.
His predecessor, Vahid Halilhodžić, had a falling out with a variety of gamers like Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui earlier within the yr.
Both had refused to play beneath the supervisor – and of their absence, Morocco flopped on the Africa Cup of Nations.
Halilhodzic was axed, and Regragui was given the extraordinarily toughed activity of reviving a toothless workforce.
No-one anticipated the North African nation to shine in Qatar. Regragui’s contract reportedly solely had the objective of constructing the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. Their magical World Cup run exceeded all expectations – and it’s not over but.
“We need to win the World Cup,” he stated, “It’s not simply phrases, we’ve to go additional, possibly we gained’t have one other alternative.
“We should not the favourites however we’re assured – possibly that makes me mad, loopy? A little bit of loopy may be good,” he stated with a smile.
France prepared for Morocco firefight | 00:42
Regragui satisfied Ziyech and Mazraioui to rejoin the nationwide workforce, and adopted a radical strategy when deciding on his squad for the event. 14 of the 26 gamers have been born abroad, the best proportion of any World Cup nation – and a mirrored image of Morocco’s diaspora throughout Europe and the world.
But Regragui – an unbelievable man-manager – has united the workforce. Part of that success was attributable to his daring transfer to ask the households of each participant to journey to Qatar in an all-expenses-paid journey.
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After each sport, gamers have been celebrating with their mother and father on the pitch or within the stands.
It is only one of many causes the underdogs have turn into the impartial’s favorite.
“We’ve turn into the workforce individuals really feel optimistic in direction of at this World Cup,” stated Regragui.
“We’re displaying the world what’s potential with much less expertise, much less high quality, much less cash, and what you’ll be able to obtain with need, onerous work and perception.”
He has additionally memorably labelled his aspect the ‘Rocky Balboa’ of the Qatar World Cup. They have been embraced all through Africa, as the primary nation from that continent to achieve the ultimate 4. They are additionally the primary Arab and Muslim nation to make it to the semi-final stage.
The workforce has adopted a novel tactical strategy, based on a compact defence that has seen them concede simply as soon as in your entire event. They shun possession however as an alternative capitalise on successfully changing uncommon probabilities created by way of fast counterattacking and fast ball motion.
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“We will play to our strengths … this concept of possession, it’s superb how soccer journalists love these figures about 60-70% possession, however it’s no good if there are solely two photographs on objective,” he stated, maybe recalling Spain’s 77% possession and one shot heading in the right direction in opposition to his workforce.
“European journalists criticise our model, I believe it bothers them to see an African workforce taking part in as they do.
“They prefer to see a dance and see (winger Sofiane) Boufal doing two nutmegs after which going again dwelling,” he stated.
The workforce has knocked out 2010 winners Spain on penalties earlier than dumping out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal within the quarter-finals. Morocco had earlier served discover of their intent by topping Group F, beating Belgium and Canada and drawing with 2018 runners-up Croatia.
One extra win would make them the primary nation exterior of South America or Europe to ever attain the ultimate.
However, they’ve confronted a raft of accidents all through the event, with captain Romain Saiss stretchered off of their final match in what is a big blow to their defence.
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FRANCE EYE 60-YEAR FIRST
Before a ball was kicked in Qatar, France’s dream of changing into the primary World Cup champions to defend their title in 60 years took a serious blow as accidents piled up.
Starting midfield duo Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante have been each dominated out, earlier than striker Karim Benzema – the reigning Ballon d’Or winner because the world’s greatest participant of the yr – additionally had a pink line dominated by way of his title.
Many questioned if France would go the best way of the previous three reigning champions, Italy, Spain and Germany, who have been all knocked out of the subsequent World Cup within the group section.
Such an exit would absolutely have been the tip for French coach Didier Deschamps, who was appointed in 2012 and led the workforce to their 2018 World Cup triumph.
Following a disappointing efficiency at Euro 2020, once they misplaced within the final 16, fellow French nice Zinedine Zidane has been ready within the wings to take over.
But Deschamps has confirmed his genius with a sequence of masterful selections.
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The World Cup winner as a captain in 1998 needed to fully reconfigure his workforce, together with abandoning his experiment with a again three.
But his determination to construct a three-man midfield round 22-year-old Aurelien Tchouameni with Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann both aspect of the Real Madrid man has paid off.
Tchouameni has been one of many standout gamers of the event.
The recurring health worries of Pogba and Kante — two stars of France’s triumphant marketing campaign 4 years in the past — allowed the highly effective and athletic midfielder to make his debut in a qualifier in opposition to Bosnia and Herzegovina in September final yr.
Since then he has performed in all bar one in every of his nation’s matches whereas additionally seeing his membership profession take off.
Usually flying beneath the radar along with his onerous operating on and off the ball that enables teammates to shine, he has surged into the limelight this event – particularly along with his opening objective in opposition to England, simply his second worldwide objective.
Rising star Tchouameni has been a quiet cog in France’s midfield machine.Source: Getty Images
Perhaps probably the most essential determination from Deschamps was turning ahead Antoine Griezmann into arguably the very best playmaker on the event.
Short of kind coming into the World Cup and with out a world objective in additional than a yr, the Atletico Madrid participant was good as soon as extra in opposition to England, establishing each objectives.
His tally is now 28 assists for France, surpassing Thierry Henry because the nation’s all-time high supplier. It is a exceptional statistic, given Griezmann scored 4 instances in Russia 2018 when he was deployed in a extra attacking position. The 31-year-old has now performed in 72 consecutive matches for Les Bleus, a mark of how extremely he’s rated by Deschamps – and his conversion into a real quantity eight has revolutionised the new-look French assault.
He was the standout within the quarter-final and has capitalised on rivals expending all their vitality attempting to close down Kylian Mbappe on the left wing.
Mbappe, the event’s equal high scorer with 5 objectives, has been in blinding kind, whereas Olivier Giroud has stepped up spectacularly within the absence of Benzema, with the veteran striker scoring 4 instances in Qatar, together with the winner in opposition to England.
Besides a defence that has been shaky at instances, the most important hazard for France is overconfidence. But Raphael Varane stated: “We have sufficient expertise within the workforce to not fall into that entice.”
“Obviously we all know they’re having an distinctive World Cup and have overwhelmed some huge nations, so it’s a match we will likely be taking significantly,” stated France right-back Jules Kounde.
“They are now not a shock package deal, they should be right here. We hope to make issues troublesome for them and qualify.”
Didier Deschamps with France’s ahead Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.Source: AFP
KEYS TO THE GAME
– Rock-solid Morocco –
Morocco have conceded only one objective in your entire event — an personal objective of their 2-1 win over Canada within the group stage — with Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal all failing to breach a rock-solid again line.
But France boast a number of objective threats. Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud have scored 9 objectives between them and Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann may also ask loads of questions.
Morocco have a variety of health considerations of their defence — centre-back Nayef Aguerd missed the Portugal sport with a muscle damage and his common companion, Romain Saiss, was substituted with a repeat of a hamstring damage.
Whoever Walid Regragui is ready to ship out must be totally switched on — France confirmed in opposition to England that even when Mbappe is neutralised there are many different sources of hazard.
Romain Saiss is doubtful after one other hamstring damage.Source: AFP
– France cautious of counter-attacks –
It is probably going that France will take pleasure in loads of possession within the Moroccan half however they must guard in opposition to swift counter-attacks.
Morocco’s model is direct and whereas they have a tendency to concentrate on the flanks, with Hakim Ziyech on the appropriate and Sofiane Boufal on the left, they’ll additionally go lengthy to striker Youssef En-Nesyri after which scamper ahead in assist.
France’s fullbacks Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez can anticipate a busy evening, whereas Morocco will look to benefit from any slip-ups from centre-half Dayot Upamecano, who had some shaky moments in opposition to England.
“We are properly conscious of their qualities, even when they don’t usually have possession,” stated Kounde. “They are very environment friendly with the ball, they attempt to mix rapidly and discover their vast gamers.”
Bukayo Saka of England caught out Dayot Upamecano on a number of events within the quarter-final.Source: Getty Images
– Do Morocco have the legs? –
Morocco spent an enormous quantity of vitality of their wins in opposition to Spain and Portugal and with some gamers carrying accidents, Wednesday’s sport will likely be an actual check of their sturdiness and stamina.
The match in opposition to Spain went to penalties whereas they confronted a frantic second half in opposition to Portugal.
France, in distinction, have been in a position to deal with their knockout video games with none extra-time and must be a lot brisker.
Didier Deschamps’ males will search to take advantage of their health benefit by making Morocco work onerous with out the ball, switching play and forcing Regragui’s workforce to chase the ball, particularly within the early levels.
Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui juggles with a ball throughout a coaching session on the Al Duhail SC Stadium in Doha.Source: AFP
– Lions roared on –
France have fewer damage considerations and extra attacking weapons however Morocco could have the gang behind them on the Al Bayt Stadium, urging them to tug off one other upset.
The African aspect, referred to as the Atlas Lions, have been one of many best-supported groups in Qatar and they’ll profit from enormous backing on Wednesday as the primary Arab workforce to achieve the semi-finals of a World Cup.
Morocco collect assist forward of SF | 03:18
Morocco’s followers rejoice successful the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between Morocco and Portugal on the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on December 10, 2022. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)Source: AFP
