FRANCE took a giant step towards retaining the World Cup by beating England on Saturday.
They now face Morocco in the semi-final at 7pm on Wednesday.
Win that, and Les Bleus will be one victory away from becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend the World Cup.
But standing in their way are a motivated Morocco team – the first African nation ever to reach the final four – who have conceded just one goal and knocked out Spain and Portugal in the last two rounds.
That only goal conceded was an own goal against Canada. Spain didn’t even find the net in the penalty shootout.
But how will Didier Deschamps and Walid Regragui line their sides up at the Al Bayt Stadium?
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For France, they are expected to name an unchanged XI from the team that beat England.
That would mean captain Hugo Lloris, one of the star performers against the Three Lions, keeps his place in goal for cap No144.
In front of him it will likely be the same back four of Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano and Theo Hernandez.
Upamecano came under heavy criticism for his performance, particularly trying to stop Harry Kane, meaning Ibrahima Konate or William Saliba could be drafted in.
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Hernandez, filling in following brother Lucas following his ACL injury against Australia, was lucky not to be sent off for his foul on Mason Mount that resulted in Kane’s missed penalty.
France are yet to keep a clean sheet in Qatar – and Deschamps will be desperate to end that run.
In midfield, Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot have formed a solid partnership, setting the base for the attacking front four to cause damage.
That attack is set to be spearheaded by Olivier Giroud with Ousmane Dembele on the right flank, Kylian Mbappe on the left and Antoine Griezmann flourishing in his new No10 role.
Kingsley Coman was the only man brought off the bench on Saturday evening and he will almost certainly have to settle for a place among the substitutes once more.
As for Morocco, their side is plagued with injuries, illnesses and a crucial suspension.
Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd missed the quarter-final against Portugal while Romain Saiss was taken off on a stretcher five minutes after half-time.
Mazraoui and Aguerd could be passed fit and come back into the fold – although replacements Yahia Attiyat Allah and Jawad El Yamiq both shone to keep Portugal out.
Walid Cheddira, though, will definitely have to sit the semi-final out after his two late yellow cards resulted in a red and a one-match suspension.
So Regragui will stick with Yassine Bounou in goal with a probable back four of Achraf Hakimi, El Yamiq, Aguerd and Allah.
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The midfield three of Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat and Selim Amallah will likely retain their places with Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal either side of Youssef En-Nesyri – the Atlas Lions’ match-winner on Saturday – in attack.
The winner of France vs Morocco will face either Argentina or Croatia in the World Cup final on Sunday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
