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France will defend their title in the 2022 World Cup final against Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Sunday, for which they qualified by beating Morocco (2-0) on Wednesday at the al-Bayt stadium in al-Khor.
The Blues of Didier Deschamps, who seem to be affected by a viral syndrome which has put several of them on the side in recent days, can go down a little more in history: only two nations have so far managed to keep their crown, the Brazil of Pelé (1958 and 1962) and Italy in the fascist era (1934 and 1938), at a time when only sixteen teams took part in the tournament.
“It’s incredible to play two World Cup finals in a row, we did a great job”, rejoiced on TF1 Théo Hernandez, author of the first goal of the Blues.
“There is emotion, pride. Obviously it was still an important march today, there will be one last ”, delayed Didier Deschamps.
Despite the defeat, the Moroccans also made history: no African nation had ever entered the semi-finals, Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana having failed in extremis in the quarters.
“I think we made them doubt at times and already, for us, it’s extraordinary, underlined after the match the coach of the Atlas Lions, Walid Regragui. We still have to work to come back stronger inch’Allah. We will have to be consistent to show that it was not an accident. »
Encouraged by their supporters, clearly in the majority at the Al-Bayt stadium, his players could have hoped for better.
Even if they were very quickly led to the score on a goal from Hernandez (5th), they then often dominated, especially in the second half, against a France team which seemed physically worn out while questions arise. on the illness that has affected some members of the group in recent days.
The Blues were also deprived of two holders, sick: the middle Adrien Rabiot, stays at the hotel, and the defender Dayot Upamecano, confined to the bench of substitutes.
Under the eyes of their president Emmanuel Macron, the reigning world champions took shelter on a goal from Randal Kolo Muani, less than a minute after his entry into play (79th).
Messi-Mbappé Summit
Of the 64 matches of this very controversial World Cup, opened against a backdrop of Western criticism of respect for human rights in the small gas emirate, there are only two left to play.
First there will be the small final, which will be played on Saturday between Morocco and Croatia, a repeat of the match played in the group stage (0-0 on November 23) and could have more salt than usual.
But the big match will be for Sunday with the face to face between two teams which appeared to be natural favorites, and between two stars of the game, teammates at Paris SG.
On the one hand, Lionel Messi, seven-time Ballon d’Or, which a large part of the planet dreams of having the most beautiful of titles on his list.
On the other, Kylian Mbappé, who confirms his status as a phenomenon, with his five goals in the tournament (nine in all with the four registered in 2018), and can become the first player to double world champion before his 24th birthday, since … King Pele.
Argentina-France is also the memory of what was undoubtedly, with Brazil-Belgium, the biggest match of the World Cup-2018, in the round of 16, ended in a 4-3 victory for the Blues.
