Morocco 0-2 France (Hernandez 5′, Kolo Muani 79′)
It will be France vs Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final after the world champions beat Morocco 2-0.
The Atlas Lions had become the first African nation to make the semi-finals of the World Cup, seeing off European giants Belgium, Spain and Portugal along the way, but goals from Theo Hernandez and substitute Randal Kolo Muani ended their fairy tale run.
France, bidding to become just the third nation to retain the World Cup, struck early, killing the electric atmosphere generated by the travelling Moroccan support with the opener after just five minutes.
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Perhaps buoyed by the noise and sea of red, Morocco defender Jawad El Yamiq tried to nip in front of Antoine Griezmann to steal the ball but Raphael Varane’s forward pass was too precise.
Griezmann advanced into the box unopposed and teed up Kylian Mbappe, whose shot was deflected to the back post where Hernandez buried an acrobatic volley past Bono to give his side the lead.
FRANCE HIT THE FRONT
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 14, 2022
Theo Hernandez puts the world champs ahead inside the first five minutes#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DS8N7OdYRv
Despite that early goal and the loss of influential defender Romain Saiss to injury, Morocco were not cowed by the world champions.
World Cup 2022 final details
- Date: Sunday 18 December
- Kick-off: 3pm BST
- Venue: Lusail Stadium
- How to watch: Coverage will begin at 2pm on both BBC One and ITV
- Stream: BBC iPlayer or ITVX
Hugo Lloris was forced into a smart save low to his left to prevent Azzedine Ounahi scoring a memorable equaliser and the neat interplay of Noussair Mazrouai and Sofiane Boufal caused problems for French full-back Jules Kounde.
France continued to look dangerous in transition though as Morocco adopted a more adventurous style than in previous games, with Griezmann’s trickery, Mbappe’s pace and the physical presence of Olivier Giroud looking their most likely routes to goal.
But Morocco grew into the game as the first half wore on, and El Yamiq nearly made up for his early error with a spectacular overhead kick that was saved by Lloris on the stroke of half time.
Those patterns continued into the second half, with Mbappe causing panic down Morocco’s right flank and France forced into some smart defending to protect their clean sheet, with Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate an assured addition to the world champions’ backline and even Griezmann regularly tracking back to make crucial interceptions.
Mbappe was treated to some meaty challenges, with Sofyan Amrabat ending one blistering run with a well-timed lunge and Achraf Dari even breaking one of the France forward’s laces with his studs.
Morocco’s best chance fell to substitute Abderrazak Hamdallah, who darted and jinked his way into space in the France box but hesitated for a split-second too long when he should have shot.
They would soon come to rue that missed opportunity thanks to the relentless Mbappe. Despite being kicked and barged across the Al Bayt Stadium pitch, the 22-year-old continued to press forward and it was from his brilliant slaloming run that the ball fell to Kolo Muani at the back post for the easiest of finishes just 44 seconds after coming on.
Instant impact from Randal Kolo Muani
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 14, 2022
The forward doubles France's lead 44 seconds after coming on as a sub
That piece of skill from Kylian Mbappe#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/9MJdiqYx85
France will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Sunday’s final, while Morocco’s memorable World Cup will come to a close in the third-place play-off on Saturday against Croatia.
Morocco vs France player ratings
Morocco:
- Yaccine Bounou 6
- Achraf Hakimi 6
- Achraf Dari 6
- Romain Saiss 5
- Jawad El Yamiq 7
- Noussair Mazraoui 6
- Hakim Ziyech 6
- Sofyan Amrabat 7
- Azzedine Ounahi 8
- Sofiane Boufal 7
- Youssef En-Nesyri 5
France:
- Hugo Lloris 7
- Jules Kounde 6
- Ibrahima Konate 8
- Raphael Varane 7
- Theo Hernandez 7
- Aurelien Tchouameni 8
- Youssouf Fofana 7
- Antoine Griezmann 9
- Ousmane Dembele 6
- Kylian Mbappe 7
- Olivier Giroud 6
Read Oli’s full player ratings analysis here
Analysis: The accidental midfield general steers creaking France into another final
By Sam Cunningham, i chief football correspondent
Is it too early to call Antoine Griezmann as the World Cup Golden Ball winner?
Out of position, in his third World Cup, at the age of 31, surely having his best of the lot and in with a shout when it comes to World Cup MVP.
Of course, he faces stiff competition from elsewhere. Five-goal team-mate Kylian Mbappe for a start. Yet while the bright lights have been trained on Mbappe throughout this tournament, Griezmann has been playing with pitch-perfect poise and precision: the architect drawing in the shadows, the natural goal-scorer for once perfectly contented to let others score the goals.
Griezmann has grown into his new role in midfield as the tournament has rolled on. Against England, he was comfortable taking on the responsibility of those frequent and irritating little fouls that disrupted England’s play. Receiving a yellow card to certify his efforts.
Against Morocco, there he was calmly placing his body between man and ball, midway into his own half, casually rolling his foot across the ball then stroking it out wide to Hernandez to spark yet another France attack that ended with Mbappe roasting Achraf Hakimi but unable to find a team-mate.
When France’s defence played like it was up the creek without a paddle in the second half – that relentless Morocco whistling will do that to you – who was the calming influence intercepting the ball a few yards from his own goal and stroking it away? Who was the player in the right place at the right time again, to track the low cross inside his own box and clear the lines? Who was up the other end, defusing pressure by drawing a foul? Who was threading the ball through to Mbappe to almost spring a goal?
Griezmann, of course. The gift who keeps on giving.
Read Sam’s full analysis from Al Bayt Stadium here
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