World Cup

SOFYAN AMRABAT has revealed he had a heated conversation with Olivier Giroud in France’s World Cup semi-final win over Morocco.The defending world champions booked their place in the final of Qatar 2022 with a 2-0 win over the north Africans on Wednesday night.
Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat was constantly battling with France’s Olivier Giroud in their World Cup semi-finalCredit: AP
The pair’s tussles were one of the most interesting battles of the matchCredit: GETTY
Giroud’s marking got on the nerves of AmrabatCredit: GETTY
Moroccan midfielder Amrabat found himself on the fringe of the historic game, often due to the tracking back of France hitman Giroud.
And he couldn’t help but give the pesky poacher a piece of his mind as he repeatedly thwarted his efforts to help his team-mates.
He told NOS: “Their striker, Olivier Giroud, followed me everywhere all over the field.
“I said to him, just STOP! He replied that he was instructed to follow me for the whole game.”
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France booked their place in their second successive World Cup final thanks to goals from Theo Hernandez and substitute Randal Kolo Muani.
Victory over the French would’ve seen Morocco become the first African team to reach the World Cup finals.
After the match, a crestfallen Amrabat said: “We feel very bitter that we couldn’t do more.
“France let us have the initiative from the start, so I guess that’s a compliment really.
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“Unfortunately, it was tough after stupidly conceding such an early goal and we had to play into their hands, with the pace they have up-front.”
Although they missed out on a historic final, Morocco can look back on Qatar 2022 with pride as they became the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
He said: “Maybe when we look back, we’ll realise it, but right now it’s mostly bitterness.
“It’s especially painful when the game was so close.”
Defeat to the French saw Morocco miss out on becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup finalCredit: Getty
Defending world champions France will play South American kings Argentina in Sunday’s final at the Lusail Stadium.
Morocco, meanwhile, will face Croatia in the third-placed play-off on Sunday. More

LIONEL MESSI will pass the baton over to Kylian Mbappe in Sunday’s World Cup final.The showpiece meeting between Argentina and France will see one of the greatest to ever do it battle it out with someone who could be mentioned in the same breath as him in 15 years time.
How Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe’s World Cup stats compare
Messi and Mbappe are the joint top scorers at the current World CupCredit: Reuters
Mbappe is bidding to win back-to-back World CupsCredit: Getty
Messi has openly admitted the final will be his last ever World Cup game.
But while there is a 12-year age gap between Messi, 35, and Mbappe, 23, there has been little to separate them at this World Cup.
Or over the last two World Cups for that matter.
Mbappe’s stats don’t go back any further than that, while the current tournament in Qatar is Messi’s FIFTH time on football’s greatest stage.
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Although, despite playing 12 less games at the World Cup, Mbappe has only scored TWO fewer goals than Messi.
They have history facing each other at the tournament, too.
An incredible round of 16 clash four years ago saw France knock Argentina out 4-3 – Mbappe scoring twice, Messi firing a blank.
Now clubmates at Paris Saint-Germain, the pair are the joint top scorers at this World Cup with five goals in six games.
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Messi’s overall World Cup record is 11 goals in 25 games, while Mbappe has a ridiculous nine from just 13 outings.
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That translates to a goal every 112 minutes – on what is supposed to be the toughest stage of all.
Messi on the other hand averages a goal every 199 minutes at the World Cup, which isn’t exactly once in a blue moon.
But while Mbappe has the edge in goals scored, Messi the maestro trumps his French counterpart when it comes to assists.
The Argentina skipper has set up eight goals in his World Cup career, compared to two for Mbappe, both of which have come at the current tournament.
Mbappe is yet to experience heartbreak on the World Cup stage, whereas for Messi it’s been failure after failure.
The closest he has come so far is losing the 2014 final in heartbreaking fashion to Germany.
He’s got one more crack at glory on Sunday, and will be desperate not to fall agonisingly short for a second time.
Mbappe though barely knows what defeat in a France shirt feels like.
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Having won the World Cup the first time he ever played in the tournament, he could make it two out of two on Sunday.
So the most important stat of all remains in Mbappe’s favour… for now.
Mbappe knocked Messi out of the 2018 World CupCredit: AFP or licensors More

THIS is the adorable moment the son of Morocco keeper Bono mistakes a microphone for an ICE CREAM.The hilarious incident occurred after Morocco’s famous quarter-final win over Portugal on Saturday, four days before their semi-final defeat to France on Wednesday.
Yassine Bounou’s son mistook a microphone for an ice cream in hilarious scenes

The little lad made his Morocco star dad laugh after Saturday’s World Cup win over Portugal
The Sevilla star, real name Yassine Bounou, produced a fine performance as he kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s side.
And he was accompanied by his son for interviews after the match.
But the kid had other ideas as Bounou gave his thoughts on the game.
As the interviewer asked questions, his son took an immediate liking to the purple foam of the mic.
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Bono, 31, and the interviewer howled with laughter as the child giggled.
The likely lad first gave it a prod with his finger.
And he then proceeded to have a bite of the microphone like it was an ice cream.
And he proceeded to go back in for a second try as Bounou squeezed his cheeks.
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Fans certainly found the incident hilarious, with one saying: “Everything about this Moroccan team is touching, sincere, true.”
Another declared: “His son is so adorable.”
One laughed: “He thought it was a big ice cream.”
Another added: “The little guy doesn’t care, he is with his father, he feels at home, get him some ice cream.”
Bounou’s stock is now high after a fantastic World Cup, with Aston Villa and Wolves reportedly keen.
But reports in Spain claim he is now on Bayern Munich’s list as a replacement for Manuel Neuer, who broke his leg while skiing after Germany’s early World Cup exit. More

KYLIAN MBAPPE was chopped down by a huge challenge from Sofyan Amrabat that forced him to change his boots during France’s World Cup semi-final victory over Morocco.The reigning world champions beat the Atlas Lions 2-0 thanks to goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani.
Sofyan Amrabat crunched Kylian Mbappe with a huge tackle outside the penalty areaCredit: Getty
The Moroccan won the ball and took Mbappe with it near the bylineCredit: EPA
Frenchman Mbappe was left screaming in pain on the floorCredit: Rex
He was forced to replace his left boot moments after the challengeCredit: Getty
It means they will now face Argentina in Sunday’s final as they bid to become the first nation to defend the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
And they will be relieved talisman Mbappe, 23, came away from the game unscathed following a meaty tackle from Amrabat, 26.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward turned on the speed, flying down the line to evade the sliding challenge of Achraf Dari.
It looked as though Amrabat would not get back to catch him, but he then came steaming in with a tackle to win the ball, going through Mbappe in the process.
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Mbappe was left writhing around on the floor in pain, but no foul was given and England legend Stuart Pearce loved the aggression from the Fiorentina midfielder.
Commentating for talkSPORT, Pearce said: “I tell you what, if you want to put a statement down for your country that it means more than anything for you to be out there that was it by Amarbat.

“He put the afterburners on and made a great challenge to take out Mbappe and start a counter-attack.”
Moments later, Mbappe was forced to change his left boot.
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And Pearce believed it was because Amrabat’s tackle had “shredded” his laces.
Amrabat has enjoyed a sensational tournament for Morocco and has been linked with a move to Liverpool and PSG.
He still has one more World Cup match remaining as Walid Regragui’s side take on Croatia in the third-place play-off on Saturday. More

CRISTIANO RONALDO was the target of an astonishing attack from Dietmar Hamann as the German praised Morocco’s “dignity in defeat”. Ronaldo and Portugal were dumped out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals after a shock loss to Morocco.
Dietmar Hamann launched an astonishing attack on Cristiano Ronaldo
The axed Manchester United star left the field in tears but was slammed for not congratulating the victors.
France eventually knocked Morocco out, denying them a place in Sunday’s final against Argentina.
And Liverpool legend Hamann hailed Morocco for how they handled defeat while aiming a dig at Ronaldo.
He said on RTE: “You talk about these superstars, top earners, top players, and one of the greatest players, who left the scene about a week ago, in Ronaldo.
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“He couldn’t even congratulate them, after the game.
“Morocco won that game, they did something historic, and he didn’t even have the dignity to congratulate them for what they had achieved.
“And now you watch them, and how they shake hands with the French, and the dignity and graciousness they show in defeat. Brilliant.”
Morocco became the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final but lost 2-0 to France, who face Argentina in the final.
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Meanwhile Ronaldo, 37, broke his silence this week after Portugal’s exit in Qatar.
He posted online: “Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. 
“Fortunately, I won many titles of international dimension, including for Portugal, but putting the name of our country on the highest level in the world was my biggest dream.
“I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream. In the 5 appearances that I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always alongside great players and supported by millions of Portuguese people, I gave my all. 
“I left everything on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream.
“Unfortunately, yesterday the dream ended. It is not worth reacting to heat.”
Cristiano Ronaldo in tears after defeat to MoroccoCredit: Getty More

KYLIAN MBAPPE wore best pal Achraf Hakimi’s match-worn Morocco shirt for France’s celebrations after reaching the World Cup final.Goals by Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani saw off the dark horses and set up a date with Argentina in Sunday’s finale.

Mbappe and Hakimi embraced at full-timeCredit: Getty
Mbappe wore Hakimi’s Morocco shirt at full-timeCredit: Getty
Hakimi also wore pal Mbappe’s shirtCredit: Getty
French President Macron with Mbappe and HakimiCredit: Getty
One of the key battles was down Morocco’s right side of the defence, where Paris Saint-Germain duo Hakimi and Mbappe would do battle.
The pair appear to be joint at the hip in the French capital but Mbappe insisted in January while on a trip to Qatar that he’d have to “destroy” his friend when the time comes for them facing off against each other.
Hakimi and Mbappe’s battle was fairly even but it was France who progressed and will look to defend their world crown.
PSG’s stars embraced at full-time and swapped shirts.
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Mbappe put on his pal’s jersey before joining his France team-mates to celebrate the win.
Hakimi also did the same, wearing Mbappe’s shirt before disappearing down the tunnel.
Fans were in love with Mbappe and Hakimi’s bromance.
One said on Twitter: “No but Mbappe’s love for Hakimi melts my heart fr. The way he changed and wore his shirt after the match.”
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Another tweeted: “The way Mbappé wore Hakimi’s shirt at the end reminds me of what real friendship is like.”
The pair were also filmed sitting together in the tunnel talking after the game before they were greeted by French president Emmanuel Macron.

Mbappe is in the hunt for both a second World Cup and a Golden Boot.
The 23-year-old has five goals – joint top with PSG team-mate Lionel Messi – although the Frenchman has two assists compared to Messi’s three.
Morocco staff member and Mbappe at full-timeCredit: Reuters More