FRANCE have reached successive World Cup finals after beating Morocco 2-0.
And they now face Lionel Messi and Argentina in the big final on Sunday afternoon.
Theo Hernandez acrobatically scored after just five minutes before super-sub Randal Kolo Muani put the semi-final out of Morocco’s reach.
Though France did not have it all their own way as Morocco piled on the pressure in the second half.
- Result France 2-0 Morocco
- France XI: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Konate, Theo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Fofana; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
- Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, El Yamiq, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Ounahi; Ziyech, En Nesyri, Boufal
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French fans celebrate into the night
‘Allez Les Bleus’ rings out from the stands and the surrounding fan-parks.
They are one step away from achieving the dream they set out to accomplish when heading out to Qatar.
When the news of Karim Benzema’s injury hit the camp prior to their first game, even the most ardent fan could be forgiven for doubting their chances of success.
Only Argentina stand in their way now.
As a side note, I wonder if ‘Gala’ ever thought in 1997 that her song ‘Freed From Desire’ would be played at the end of football games at a World Cup some 25 years later.
Credit: EPA Credit: Getty France set up classic encounter
Before this tournament started, had you offered anyone an Argentina versus France final, plenty would have taken your arm off.
In Lionel Messi, you have probably the best player the world has seen, with his final chance to win the trophy he has always craved.
But for Les Bleus, in Kylian Mbappe, they have the future of football who will do all he can to prevent that from happening.
The mouth waters at the prospect.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty Credit: Getty ‘Le petit prince’ reigns supreme
Well there was no argument who was the standout player for France this evening.
Antoine Griezmann, playing in his new deeper role. pulled the strings for Didier Deschamps tonight.
He has been doing just that throughout the tournament and his link up play between midfield and attack is sublime.
FT: France 2-0 Morocco
The Atlas Lions can hold their heads high, Les Bleus know they have been in a game today.
Had they managed to just convert one of their chances, this could have been a completely different game.
The stats show just how evenly matched these two teams were.
FT: France 2-0 Morocco
France are the first team to reach back-to-back World Cup finals since Brazil some 20 years ago.
They are also the first European team to do this for 84 years.
Morocco have finally run out of steam and head home from Qatar.
France 2-0 Morocco
90+6. That was unbelievable that the Atlas Lions did not score.
It may have only been a consolation but was no more than Morocco had deserved here tonight.
France look to run the clock down now.
Inside the ground – closing time
Martin Lipton reports from Qatar:
The locals are starting to leave.
But the Moroccan fans will stay all the way to the end. And probably for quite a while afterwards.
The celebrations for France. And rightly so.
A fourth final in the seven World Cups I’ve covered. Maybe I should ask for a bonus.
The glory, though, for the defeated side.
They have taken African football further than it has ever gone before.
And from now on, talking about an African winner is not fanciful. It’s possible.
France 2-0 Morocco
90+4. Morocco are still probing and looking for something.
The ball is worked into the box and half-cleared.
Ounahi twists and turns and gets a shot away but it deflects behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner it is cleared but Morocco come straight back at France.
They get into the six yard box, get the ball past Lloris but somehow Kounde clears the ball off the line.
France 2-0 Morocco
90+2. Tears stream down the faces of young Morocco fans.
Their dreams of a World Cup final in tatters.
But it has taken the quality of the defending world champions to dislodge them from this competition.
France 2-0 Morocco
90. Despite what seems to be their exit this evening, Morocco can walk off this pitch with heads held high.
They have been a breath of fresh air in the World Cup.
And their names will be etched in the history of the competition.
We are going to have an added six minutes here.
Credit: Getty France 2-0 Morocco
88. All this Morocco side have lacked tonight is that clinical finish.
They have caused France all sorts of problems and had their fans with hearts in mouth aplenty.
Walid Regragui’s side just lacked the ability to finish their attacks off.
France 2-0 Morocco
86. Morocco are still not giving up.
They saw what Holland did Argentina after all.
A goal for the Atlas Lions in the next five minutes will rattle this French defence.
Inside the ground – telling strike
Martin Lipton reports from Qatar:
And there you go.
You can’t get a better first touch than scoring what is surely the decisive goal in a World Cup semi-final.
Mbappe did all the hard work with the wriggle and shot and the deflection made it easy for Muani to slot home from six yards or so.
Morocco could have given no more.
They’ve pushed and pushed.
But in the end, reality has struck.
And we will get the Final the rest of the non-African and non-Arab world wanted.
Messi v Mbappe, for the biggest prize in the game.
France 2-0 Morocco
84. That will make for a more comfortable climax to this game for Les Bleus.
They were on the ropes so many times as Morocco sprayed them with punch after punch.
But Kolo Muani’s first goal for his country has settled this game.
Credit: Getty France 2-0 Morocco
82. What a harsh end to the hopes of Morocco.
Nothing more than plain bad luck as that ball deflected straight into the French sub’s path.
It completely wrong-footed Bono in the Moroccan goal.
France 2-0 Morocco
80. That may have put the final nail in the coffin of the Atlas Lions.
Mbappe tries to work a position to shoot inside the box but his shot is blocked.
The ball deflects into the path of Kolo Muani who puts the ball away.
Goal – Randal Kolo Muani (France)
France 1-0 Morocco
78. Amrabat pings a ball out wide.
As Morocco cut inside the ball is snuffed out by Varane.
Forgot he was playing to be fair, it has been the Ibrahima Konate show in defence for Les Bleus.
Amallah comes off for Ezzalzouli.
Dembele comes off for Kolo Muani
Credit: EPA Inside the ground – Atlas Lions effort
Martin Lipton reports from Qatar:
The effort has been immense, on and off the pitch.
But you do sense that Morocco are starting to run out of legs.
France have not taken advantage yet but the gaps are getting bigger.
Not that the drummers at either end are going to accept that.
France 1-0 Morocco
76. Walid Regragui is looking to make another change for the Atlas Lions.
Hamdallah dances his way through the French defence but seems as though he does not want to pull the trigger.
What a goal that would have been.
France 1-0 Morocco
74. We are almost into the last quarter of the game now.
Time is running out for Walid Regragui’s side.
All it will take is one goal to take us to extra-time.
France counter attack and find Youssef Fofana in the box but he slices his shot well wide more akin to teammate Wesley.
Inside the ground – Giroud off
Martin Lipton reports from Qatar:
Giroud’s departure sees Mbappe operating through the middle for France.
That makes sense because the centre-halves are unlikely to be quicker than wide defenders.
France appear to have got their balance back after weathering the storm.
But the wall of Moroccan sound is not going away.
Every pass and tackle are cheered. When it looks as if they might create something, off the scale.
France 1-0 Morocco
72. Grizemann stands over yet another free kick.
He picks out Thuram at the back post but he heads it wide.
Big chance to kill the game off there.
France 1-0 Morocco
70. Griezman whips the ball in but it evades everyone.
Mbappe picks the ball up, drops the shoulder and looks to shoot.
Great block from Morocco before the flag is raised for offside.
That decision could be from anytime from the opening game of the tournament up to this point.
Credit: Getty France 1-0 Morocco
68. The fresh legs for Morocco could cause even more problems for Didier Deschamps’ team.
Thuram is doing just that as he beats his man down the left and draws a foul from Hakimi.
Needless foul.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
