Final whistle: Morocco’s fairy tale is over, France is in the final
Dhow was it. Morocco’s sensational run came to an end with the 0:2 against France. The Africans will go into Saturday’s third-place match against Croatia with their heads held high. Not only did they offer a great fight, but also an appealing game offensively. But this time there should be no goals from the danger. The overhead kick is symbolic here just before the break, which smacked the post. Even in stoppage time they didn’t give up and could or should have made the connection.
The final of the decimated French is undeserved – Sunday it’s against Argentina – but by no means. After the early lead, they could have increased before the change. In the end, they patiently waited for their chance and gave birth to a new hero: Frankfurt’s post-nominated striker Kolo Muani, who scored the 2-0 with the first touch of the ball.
The Equipe Tricolore is now the first team in 60 years to be able to defend the world championship title. The last time Brazil did was in 1962.
87 minutes: Morocco’s plug is pulled
It should have been here. Horrified Moroccans in the stands, exhausted Moroccans on the field. Belief in the final seems gone.
79 minutes: 2: 0 – Frankfurt Joker ensures preliminary decision
The thing seems to have worked. Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt dusted off to make it 2-0. 42 seconds after being substituted on! With his first ball contact! Mbappé had previously shot. As so often, his shot was blocked and more or less fell at the feet of the lucky guy. By the way, Kolo Muani wasn’t supposed to go to the World Cup, but was called up after Benzema’s injury.
Randal Kolo Muani makes the decision
Quelle: Getty Images/Catherine Ivill
75 minutes: From the final phase
Will the tireless Moroccans reward themselves with an equaliser? Or will the French complete a counterattack against the now tiring opponent? Since octopus Paul is retired and doesn’t feel like oracles anymore, we have to be surprised. Both exits are possible here.
68. Minute: Deja vu?
The whole thing is reminiscent of France’s quarter-final against England. There, too, the French left the game to their opponents after a 1-0 lead and were the worse team, but still won 2-1 in the end because with their offensive class they are always good for a stroke of genius and a goal. Maybe the hero’s name this time is Marcus Thuram. The Gladbacher was just substituted on for Giroud. He didn’t like it at all. At least he looked pretty spare when he left the place.
60 minutes: Morocco impresses
The outsider consistently tries to equalize, and not with a crowbar, but with the finest short passing game. Again and again, the Moroccans combine in the French penalty area. They shouldn’t be surprised if it hits soon.
55 minutes: Like Jürgen Kohler once did
Mbappé ignites the turbo and marches down the left line like a bull spotting a red rag in the distance. He leaves two Moroccans standing before he has to pull the handbrake just before the touchline. At that moment, Amrabat comes flying and clears the striker with every trick in the book. The emphasis is on rules. Because Amrabat actually managed to play the ball. Jürgen Kohler clicks his tongue in front of the television in distant Germany.
Amrabat clears Mbappé
Source: dpa/Robert Michael
46 minutes: It continues in an amazingly offensive game
The second half is on. It’s welcome to continue as before. There were 15 shots on goal in the first half, ten of which the French gave up. Morocco, on the other hand, had more possession (56%) and a slightly positive rate of tackles (51%). Morocco have to make another change, with Attiyat Allah coming on for Bayern’s ailing Mazraoui.
Half-time break: overhead kick on the post
Lucas Hernandez’s early goal turned the expected gameplay upside down. Instead of attacking French, there are often attacking Moroccans to see. This usually looks good and pleasing and is sometimes really dangerous. Like in the 45th minute, when El Yamiq almost scored the most beautiful goal of the tournament. After a corner, he starts an overhead kick, but hits the post with it. It should also be mentioned here that the man is a central defender.
Jawad El Yamiq hits the post
Quelle: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
Due to the commitment, the equalizer would have been well deserved, even if the French, who were waiting for a counterattack, could have led 2-0 themselves. Either way, you can look forward to the second 45 minutes of this really nice game.
40. Minute: Mbappe! Giroud! Nope! Nope!
While the Moroccans struggle, the French wait for their chance to counterattack. And it’s coming. Mbappé completes a quick attack, but fails due to goalkeeper Bono. The ball comes back in front of the goal, where Giroud shoots directly, but misses the post. That could or should have been 2-0 twice. In any case, we imagine a stunned Louis de Funés. Mondieu! Non! Non!
32 minutes: First change, first card
Bitter news for Morocco: The outstanding defender Saiss has to go down injured, Amallah is playing for him. And then Boufal sees a yellow card after a collision with Hernandez, which is classified as questionable or mild. Nevertheless, the Africans play tirelessly to equalize, but always risk running into a counterattack.
25 minutes: Two amazing facts
- It is Morocco’s first deficit in ninth game under coach Walid Regragui, including the current World Cup.
- Theo Hernandez became the first opponent to score against Morocco in their sixth World Cup game. Previously, there was only one Aguerd own goal against Canada.
20 minutes: Giroud on the post, a fun game
The initial phase is over and more has happened in the first 20 minutes than in some World Cup games over 90 minutes. The Moroccans are not hiding and have already made two good attacks. But the French are much more dangerous.
Olivier Giroud hits the ball against the post
What: AFP/ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
Striker Giroud takes a hard shot at the end of a counterattack, the ball smacking the left post to the delight of millions of Moroccans. The celebrated goalkeeper Bono would not have come close.
10 minutes: Good chance for Morocco
The Africans are not shocked by the early deficit and prove that you can attack with a five-man defense chain. Ounahi pulls from 20 meters. Goalkeeper Lloris dives into the left corner and can hold. We also state: cheerful start here.
5 minutes: 1-0 for France
First attack, first goal: With tens of thousands of Moroccans whistling, France took the lead extremely early. Theo Hernandez makes it 1-0 for the defending champion. Mbappé shoots twice at goal, is blocked twice. The brother of Bayern professional Lucas Hernandez uses the second rebound with a quite artistic action.
Theo Hernandez (left) scored in the fifth minute to give France the lead
Credit: AFP/ODD ANDERSEN
1. Minute: Go!
The hymns are sung (the Moroccan one is very loud), the line-ups are read, the kick-off is done. Will France or Morocco join Argentina in Qatar final? The second semi-final is on.
19:50 France without two regular players
World champions France will be without sick Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot in the semifinals against Morocco. Bayern professional Upamecano is initially on the bench and is replaced in central defense by ex-Leipziger Ibrahima Konaté. The 27-year-old midfielder Rabiot is not even in the French squad, with Youssouf Fofana playing in midfield.
Upamecano and Rabiot had missed the final training of the Équipe Tricolore before the game. According to media reports, both suffer from a cold. Apart from these two changes, coach Didier Deschamps offers the same starting XI against surprise team Morocco as he did in the quarter-finals 2-1 against England.
Morocco will start without Yahia Attiyat Allah and Selim Amallah, both of whom are on the bench, after exhausting performances in the knockout stage so far. Coach Walid Regragui announced on Tuesday that no professional would definitely fail. Against the world champion, he switches his defense to a five-man chain.
The lineups
- France: Lloris – Kounde, Varane, Conate, T. Hernandez – Tchouamen, Fofana – O. Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe – Giroud
- Morocco: Bono – Hakimi, El Yamiq, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui – Ziyech, Ounahi, Amrabat, Boufal – En-Nesyri
19:43: Last game for Béla Réthy
The semifinals will be the last live game for ZDF commentator Béla Réthy, who turns 66 today. Our text about a man who always divided the football nation:
19:25: Seven flights from Morocco canceled
Morocco’s state airline has canceled seven of the flights to the semifinals in Qatar announced at short notice. The reason for this are restrictions by the Qatari authorities “beyond the control” of Royal Air Maroc (RAM), the company said. The seven flights should have been served by Qatar Airways. What kind of restrictions are involved remained unclear.
After the Moroccan victory on Monday, RAM had announced almost 30 flights with large aircraft at short notice, which should fly to Doha within 24 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. As many fans as possible should come to Qatar as quickly as possible via this “airlift”. The action should help “let Morocco shine” and support the team.
