The second World Cup semi-final takes place today, as France meet Morocco.
Last night, a sublime Lionel Messi display fired Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Croatia to earn a shot at glory in what is surely his final tournament.
His PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe – who is tied with the Argentine legend as leading scorer at Qatar 2022 – now has the chance to set up a blockbuster head-to-head in the final.
First, though, France will have to get past a Morocco side who have surpassed all expectations with a series of rousing displays – here’s how to watch the World Cup semi-final live.
What TV channel is France vs Morocco on?
France vs Morocco kicks off at 7pm (UK time – Qatar is three hours later) on Wednesday 14 December – it is the semi-final that England would have played in were it not for their heartbreaking exit.
It is is being played at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor with live TV coverage on BBC One, the build-up getting underway at 6.30pm.
Gary Lineker is presenting the broadcast, with commentary from Steve Wilson and Danny Murphy.
Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand and Didier Drogba will then be on hand to provide expert analysis from the studio.
The entire 2022 World Cup is being broadcast on free-to-air television in the UK, with the BBC and ITV sharing the rights.
All matches are therefore also available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer (as in the case of the France game) or the new ITVX streaming platform, depending on which broadcaster has the rights to that fixture.
What can you expect from France vs Morocco?
Morroco’s improbable, history-making run at the World Cup faces the ultimate test against France tonight.
Africa’s first team to reach the semis faces the intimidating prospect of Mbappé, the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals and the heir to the crown of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the most gifted player of his generation.
But Walid Regragui, Morocco’s French-born coach, has remained positive in the build-up.
He said: “I was asked if we can win the World Cup and I said, ‘Why not? We can dream, it doesn’t cost you anything to have dreams’.
“European countries are used to winning the World Cup and we have played top sides, we have not had an easy run. Anyone playing us is going to be afraid of us now.”
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France remain the overwhelming favourites, however, and centre-back Raphael Varane said there will be no danger of complacency among his teammates.
“We have enough experience in the team to not fall into that trap,” he said. “We know Morocco aren’t here by chance. It is up to us, as experienced players, to make sure we are all prepared for another battle.”
Morocco have some injury worries, with defenders Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss at risk of missing out, but Regragui brushed off the concerns.
The coach said: “We recovered well. We have good doctors and every day we get good news. No one is ruled out and no one is for certain. We’ll use the best team possible.”
Didier Deschamps, the France coach, said that his team is ready for the “loud support” that Morocco will get from its fans, but added his players have prepared for the atmosphere and know what to expect.
He also acknowledged the challenge his side faces in breaking down their opponents: “Yes, it’s true, Morocco have been very strong in defence. And none of their opponents has managed to find a solution.
“But they’re not just good in defence. They wouldn’t have reached the semi-finals if they were just a defensive team.”
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