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France Ends Morocco’s Cinderella Run, Returns to World Cup Final

Theo Hernández got Les Bleus off to a dream start in the fifth minute while Randal Kolo Muani scored in the 79th minute for France to defeat the Atlas Lions.

Andrew Gastelum

After another blazing run through soccer’s biggest stage, France has clinched a spot in the World Cup final for the second straight tournament.

Les Bleus’ World Cup title defense proved to be too much for Morocco’s magical run in Qatar with a 2–0 win as France is now one game away from becoming the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive World Cups. 

With Lionel Messi and Argentina waiting in the final after a 3–0 win over Croatia on Tuesday, France calmly chipped away at a stalwart Moroccan defense that came into the semifinal having conceded only an own goal all tournament. But Theo Hernández gave the champions an early lead just five minutes in while Randal Kolo Muani added another in the second half to send France into a dream matchup in Sunday’s final.

Morocco had made a habit out of stunning European giants in Qatar, topping a group that included Croatia and Belgium while sending Spain and Portugal home in the knockouts to become the first African team to ever qualify for the semifinal. But the Atlas Lions couldn’t break through against France and will head to the third-place game against Croatia on Saturday.

The defending champs couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. In just the fifth minute, France took the lead after Hernández jumped on a blocked shot that took a fortunate bounce to him at the back post for the opening goal on an acrobatic finish.

In the 10th minute, Azzedine Ounahi nearly brought Morocco level, forcing Hugo Lloris into a good save on a shot that looked destined for the bottom corner. Sofiane Boufal followed that up minutes later with another chance, but he slipped just as he took the shot and sent it wide. 

In the 17th minute, France was inches away from a 2–0 lead when Morocco misplayed a long ball that fell to Olivier Giroud, who lined up a shot that struck the post.

Morocco had to go on without its captain when Romain Saïss needed to be subbed off after struggling throughout the knockout stages with an injury.

In the 35th minute, France came close once again with Giroud knocking at the door. Hernández was involved once again when he found Giroud open inside the penalty area, but Giroud sent a clear chance wide.

In the 45th minute, Morocco almost equalized in remarkable fashion after a corner kick. During a loose ball in the box, Jawad El Yamiq struck the post on a daft overhead kick that he nearly pulled off in a crowded box. 

In the 51st minute, Mbappé went on a blazing run past three defenders down the left touchline before he was upended by a clinical tackle from Sofyan Amrabat right at the endline that saw Mbappé land in a heap.

France continued to sit back in its defensive third from the start of the second half with Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech putting constant pressure on the French defense in front of goal. 

But Les Bleus started to find their rhythm after the hour mark. Mbappé came close in the 69th minute when he feinted one way in the penalty area and blasted a shot with his left that was blocked just in time. 

Three minutes later, Marcus Thuram sent a wide-open header just wide of the post off an Antoine Griezmann cross after coming on for Giroud. 

But France found its second goal in the 79th minute when Kolo Muani doubled the lead. At the edge of the area, Mbappé dribbled between three players before what appeared to be a shot deflected right to Kolo Muani, who tapped in the chance just seconds after coming on as a substitute.  

France’s win sets up one of the most anticipated finals matchups in World Cup history as the World Cup champions face off with Messi’s supposed last chance at a World Cup title, while Mbappé and Messi are tied atop the Golden Boot race with five goals in Qatar. 

Here were the lineups for both sides:

Full World Cup squads

France

GOALKEEPERS: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes)

DEFENDERS: Axel Disasi (Monaco), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Raphaël Varane (Manchester United)

MIDFIELDERS: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Mattéo Guendouzi (Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (Marseille)

FORWARDS: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

COACH: Didier Deschamps

Morocco

GOALKEEPERS: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir Mohamedi (Al Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad AC)

DEFENDERS: Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Yahia Attiyat Allah (Wydad AC), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC), Achraf Dari (Brest), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Roman Saiss (Besiktas)

MIDFIELDERS: Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Bilal El Khannous (Genk), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad AC), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria), Anass Zaroury (Burnley)

FORWARDS: Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Sofiane Boufal (Angers), Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers), Walid Cheddira (Bari), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Ittihad), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)

Midfielder Amine Harit was hurt playing for Marseille after initially being selected and was forced to withdraw from the competition.

COACH: Walid Regragui

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Andrew Gastelum
ANDREW GASTELUM

Andrew Gastelum is a programming editor and writer at Sports Illustrated who specializes in soccer, the Olympics and international sports. He joined the SI staff in March 2021 and previously contributed to Howler Magazine and NBC Sports. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame alum and is currently based in Italy.

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