France vs Morocco

If Morocco can shackle France's Kylian Mbappe, it will be half the battle won. Advertisement. AFTER THE sweaty victory against England, the French ...

A big part of it would be to contain Mbappe, make him settle for bad numbers (by his standards) as he had against England and hope he heaves the ball into the distance rather than to the back of the net. Their prime focus was not on Kovacic and Modric, but Brozovic, to prevent him from enjoying too many touches in the midfield, to deny him the opportunity to carry the ball upfield. The first line of defence started with Youssef En-Nesyri, behind him were Azzedine Ounahi and Selim Amallah, tightly holding onto Modric and Kovacic. Almost all of the front five could play-make as well as score; even the defensive midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni could; so could Theo Hernandez, and Rafael Varane. The latter has clocked 35 kmph, the former 35.3 kmph, and together form the fastest pair in this World Cup. Then, as they strolled back to the tunnel, a football bounced onto the turf and fell in the path of Kylian Mbappe. They constricted the hat-trick hero Goncalo Ramos, the most direct of goal-scoring threats, like a python would its prey. There are multiple layers that make the game intriguing and fascinating. Among the four survivors, France has scored the most number of goals (11). Even the usually deadpan-faced Deschamps broke into peals of laughter. The numbers were put forth to manager Didier Deschamps. But so wayward was the strike that it blew somewhere into the distant stands.

France and Morocco meet in the second semifinal of the 2022 World Cup on Dec. 14. Here's what you need to know about the match.

Winning the 2018 World Cup made him the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager. He has taken Morocco further than anyone imagined at this World Cup and thinks the team can still give more. It has averaged 32% possession in its five World Cup matches, the second-lowest of any team. This strategy has worked due to its near-impenetrable defense and the ability to counter-attack at pace with the dribbling skills of wingers Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal. It was effective against England and a similar approach worked at the World Cup in Russia four years ago. It showed this against England, which had 58% possession and twice as many shots as the World Cup holder. Changing the players has not changed the script – Morocco’s defense is very hard to break. The defense has also had to adapt. For a confidence boost, Hakimi should look no further than Mbappé, who described the Moroccan as the “best RB (right-back) in the world” in a January [tweet](https://twitter.com/KMbappe/status/1486074687838949379). Reigning champion France is aiming to become the first country to win back-to-back men’s World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. It is the outsider for this match but remains unbeaten, having secured against-the-odds wins over Spain and Portugal in the knockout stage. [keeping Mbappé quiet in the quarterfinal](https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertkidd/2022/12/09/world-cup-2022-quarter-final-stop-kylian-mbapp-and-england-has-hope-against-france/), with France relying on goals from Aurélien Tchouaméni and Olivier Giroud for the 2-1 victory.

Morocco have become the first ever African nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final following their victory against Portugal. They come up against reigning ...

We lost a lot of players before the World Cup. Of course, there is another tie to be played in the semi-final round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. You can play our Opta Challenge game for a chance to win $500. Morocco have become the first ever African nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final following their victory against Portugal. It’s not a surprise now because we’ve seen them put in a number of top performances. “We can be satisfied with what we’ve done so far, even though we want to go further. “It’s a historic achievement. “It’s fantastic what [coach Walid Regragui] has achieved,” he added. Once again, Morocco are unlikely to have most of the ball, so the combativeness of players like Azzedine Ounahi and Amrabat in midfield could be key, particularly with Griezmann so influential in his new midfield position. We lost Amine [Harit], [Imran] Louza, [Adam] Masina… “Morocco have played and beaten some of the best teams in the world, and that’s down to the players, the coach, the staff. “We’ve got to the semis, closer to the final, and this was an important achievement, so we can believe in ourselves, but we have a big game on Wednesday,” he said.

Everything you need to know ahead of the 2022 World Cup semi-final clash between France and Morocco.

[Kylian Mbappe](https://theathletic.com/football/player/kylian-mbappe-vqEQPtKAKLluodtc/) was in his coming-of-age performance against Argentina four years ago, a deeper dive into Africa’s most successful World Cup and Ziyech’s Morocco redemption are on the menu ahead of this one. [Hakim Ziyech](https://theathletic.com/football/player/hakim-ziyech-wnxSjcAC5t7f1pHr/) was withdrawn with an issue in the latter stages but he should be fine to start against France. Meanwhile, Morocco are chasing more history for the continent of Africa. They are the first African side in World Cup history to reach the last four. Since 1998, they have reached football’s showpiece event on three occasions and will be targeting a fourth on Wednesday. After stopping Luis Enrique’s side from scoring throughout 120 minutes, the north Africans won 3-0 on penalties. Then came their toughest test and a game that should’ve probably been a semi-final or even the final, against England. Two wins from their opening two games saw them reach the knockouts with a game to spare before Deschamps’ second-string team were beaten by However, Walid Regragui revealed that none of his players are definitely ruled out for the semi-final. There are no real notable decisions for him to make as each of his players have done the jobs asked of them so far. Coverage will be shown on the BBC. Cesar Ramos has been confirmed as the match referee.

France face Morocco on Wednesday in the second of the FIFA 2022 World Cup semifinals. The Atlas Lions have already made history as the first African and ...

We want to reach the final and to win it. Advantage France who have a settled XI with key players in form and experience at this juncture of a World Cup. To say that we are satisfied to reach the semis does us a disservice. We will leave it as long as possible before making a call." Should the AC Milan man score again here, he will become the oldest player in World Cup history to score five times in this tournament. Whether it is against the French or against Brazil, all I want to do is qualify. We are hungry, of course, but we must be strong to advance. We will continue to do what we know best and aim to pull off a surprise. Before or after a match, despite any history and passion, I like my players to know their place as I expect the same of myself." The Moroccans have been the surprise package in Qatar and are very much the underdogs against the defending champions who are chasing their third title and only the third successful title defense in the tournament's history. "We will be up against the world champions with a top level coach -- the best in the world. The Atlas Lions have already made history as the first African and Arab country to reach this point while Les Bleus are looking to reach back-to-back finals.

All the details on how fans in Australia can watch the massive World Cup semifinal between France and Morocco.

SBS On Demand Be Part Of The Conversation [Take It To The Neds SBS Their defence has been fantastic, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou keeping another clean sheet and getting another man of the match award against Portugal. They have now defeated all of Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their giantkilling run.

SportsLine's soccer model simulated France vs. Morocco and locked in its 2022 FIFA World Cup picks and predictions for Wednesday's semifinal.

- France vs. France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup? And which side has all the value? Hakimi is the World Cup leader with 17 tackles, and Mazraoui is tied for fourth with 13. The 31-year-old has 29 clean sheets in 48 career starts for Morocco and has a 75.6 save percentage in six seasons in Spain's La Liga, the past four with Sevilla. Midfielder Antoine Griezmann also has been a critical piece as a box-to-box player, and he is third all-time in for France with 42 goals and has 26 assists. [2022 World Cup picks](https://www.sportsline.com/fifa-wc/picks/) and predictions. France are the -185 favorites (risk $185 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in the latest France vs. Les Bleus eked out a 2-1 victory against France on Saturday to make the semifinal for the third time in their past six World Cup appearances. The model was accurate on 56% of all picks during the Champions League group stage and returned more than $1,000 to $100 bettors on its A+ picks. A draw is priced at +295 and the over/under for total goals is set at 2.5. France remain on track to defend their title, but upstart Morocco have other plans as the teams get set to meet in a 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal on Wednesday.

One down, one to go. After their best performance thus far, Argentina downed Croatia 3-0 behind yet another magical Messi display and a statement game from ...

They thrive in battles of endurance, wearing their opponents down and refusing to let up. They’ve already made history as the first African nation to advance to the World Cup semi-finals, a feat that will be enough to immortalize this team in soccer lore. This isn’t a fluke; the organization, effort, and skill of this Moroccan defense has been truly world-class. After escaping the champion’s curse in the group stages, France continued their dominance. The likes of Kylian Mbappe up top and Hugo Lloris in the net have proven that this team can do just about anything. France, the two-time world champs and current holders of the title, and they are stacked with talent once again.

France is a betting favorite against Morocco on Wednesday in the 2022 World Cup, with a tie listed at +240. Sports betting sites also have props.

Which team will go on to play Argentina in the final?

For Spanish-speaking US residents Peacock is airing all of the World Cup games live in Spanish. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If you're away from home in the UK, you can use a VPN like ExpressVPN to watch BBC iPlayer or ITVX (formerly ITV Hub) from anywhere. Note that Sling is currently running a promotion where the first month of service is half-price ($20) for new subscribers. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions. If you find yourself unable to view the match locally, that's where using a VPN can come in handy. Morocco is in the World Cup semifinals. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. The loser will face Croatia in the third-place game on Saturday, Dec. With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. The winner will play Argentina in the World Cup Final on Sunday, Dec. There is an option that doesn't require searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a [VPN](/tech/services-and-software/best-vpn/), or virtual private network.

SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green locked in his 2022 World Cup picks and predictions for Morocco vs. France in Wednesday's semifinal match.

- France vs. Green has broken down this semifinal from every angle. Les Bleus have not kept a single clean sheet at the tournament, and the defense looked very shaky in the quarterfinal against England. They also have won more tackles (104 to 98) and interceptions (51 to 49) and have conceded fewer shots outside the box (16 to 20). Filling in for the injured N'Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, the 22-year-old Tchouameni has played a team-high 411 minutes and has completed a tournament-high 93.2% of his passes. Les Bleus have the offensive firepower to unlock the Moroccan defense. France are the -180 favorite (risk $180 to win $100) in the latest France vs. [You can head to SportsLine now to see Green's picks](https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/2022-world-cup-france-vs-morocco-odds-picks-predictions-best-bets-for-wednesdays-semifinal-from-proven-soccer-expert/#ttag=12122022_agg_cbssports_picks_soccer_worldcup_martingreen_FranceMorocco). [2022 World Cup picks](https://www.sportsline.com/fifa-wc/picks/) and predictions. After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Reigning World Cup champion France can return to the World Cup final for the second straight tournament when Les Bleus square off against Morocco in a semifinal at the 2022 World Cup on Wednesday. Before you lock in your Morocco vs.

France play Morocco in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, with both sides hoping to meet Argentina in Sunday's showpiece final at the Lusail Stadium.

Sofyan Amrabat spoke to Fox after Morocco's loss, saying: "After a game like this it’s difficult to think (of positives) for the players. "It’s been a month that we’ve been together with the players, it’s never easy. France have reached the World Cup final for a fourth time. "Because of (Kolo Muani's) strength, speed and running, I thought he was the best player to bring on. And they showed they know how to play, how to defend and attack. We are really united in this victory, there is a lot of love. Kingsley Coman came on in the last game but he also suffered from a bit of flu so he wasn't ready to come on. Given the tough match we had tonight, I decided not to play him and play Konate instead, because I know that he has already shown he's good enough to play at that level. Didier Deschamps gave an update on Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot, both of whom did not play in today's match due to illness: "Dayot (Upamecano) will be fit. [Theo Hernandez](https://theathletic.com/football/player/theo-hernandez-Kw8dlLxh5HDhk9JV/) just five minutes to open the scoring after a goalmouth scramble. In the first half and start of the second, they put us under a lot of pressure and perhaps we could have played better. And of course, he is one of the best players in the word, he has shown that.

France are favourites by a mile, but for Morocco, they're just another giant to slay.

Watched by quite possibly billions of people, the World Cup final will be held on Sunday, Qatar’s national day, at Lusail Stadium. The winners, however, go on to sport’s biggest event. When in possession, they’ll be hoping to put the ball at the feet of Achraf Hakimi, Mbappe’s teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech, to see if the star pairing can make a little more magic for Morocco. [Giroud](/news/2022/12/4/olivier-giroud-scores-52nd-goal-to-break-henrys-france-record) brings the calm experience to the attacking line; a wise head that the veteran can still use to devastating effect. Head coach Didier Deschamps is one of only three men to have won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui on Tuesday made clear that his side were going to try their best to pull off [another “upset”](/news/2022/12/13/morocco-manager-confident-hopes-to-upset-france-in-semifinal) in their fairytale run.

All the details of how fans in the USA can stream the massive World Cup semifinal between France and Morocco for free.

Fox Sports site/app, Streaming (Spanish) Streaming (English) TV Channel (Spanish) TV Channel (English) France have shaken off a raft of injuries and the supposed 'world champions curse' to make a second successive semifinal.

Morocco plays France in the semi-finals of the Fifa World Cup today. What you may not know is that the two countries share a complex relationship; ...

In this way, “brain drain” is arguably one of the most pernicious outcomes of colonialism and a foremost neocolonial process. In doing so, it has attained a symbolic victory over the neocolonial process of “brain drain”. Yet, behind the heartwarming story of Guinean Paul Pogba scoring for France in the World Cup final, or Malian N’golo Kante running the French midfield, hides the story of how African nations failed to gain from the talents of their most talented players. The fact that all these players are playing for Morocco, instead of the countries they/their parents migrated to, is in itself a victory. With French education also came ideas of liberty and equality, both of which were missing in the seemingly peaceful and picturesque French colony. Conditions created under colonial rule as well as the world capitalist economy that continues to divide the world into a Global North and South on erstwhile colonial lines, are what drive migration across many ex-colonies. However, the contours of Morocco’s relationship with France in many ways reproduces old colonial hierarchies. Today, an estimated five million Moroccans live abroad, with the majority of the diaspora being located in Europe, especially in France. However, France did not touch the old cities of Morocco which were spiritual and cultural nerve centres for the population. The Atlas mountains run through its length, giving the Moroccan football team its moniker of “Atlas Lions.” However, today, the West’s (and perhaps the rest of the world’s) imagination of Morocco is intimately tied to its romantic depiction in the ageless classic “Casablanca”, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Between 1912 and 1956, most of modern day Morocco was [a French colony](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/france-vs-morocco-colonial-history-makes-it-more-than-a-football-match-8323124/).

Al Jazeera's AI robot Kashef has crunched the numbers and has some predictions for today's game.

Should manager Walid Regragui’s side do so, they have a 31 percent chance of lifting the trophy against Argentina at Lusail Stadium on December 18. With 61 matches completed, Kashef has a 67 percent accuracy level. Prediction: Sizing up all the odds, Kashef has once again concluded that Morocco face an uphill battle.

History-makers Morocco will face France in Qatar, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.

[fuboTV](https://www.fubo.tv/stream/worldcup/?irad=1370502&irmp=1131770&sharedid=editorial), The other main streaming options for the game are through the Fox Sports app or FoxSports.com. [fuboTV](https://www.fubo.tv/stream/worldcup/?irad=1370502&irmp=1131770&sharedid=editorial), Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, or Peacock. The world champions, France, must be beaten first. [fuboTV](https://www.fubo.tv/stream/worldcup/?irad=1370502&irmp=1131770&sharedid=editorial), Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Peacock [fuboTV](https://www.fubo.tv/stream/worldcup/?irad=1370502&irmp=1131770&sharedid=editorial), FoxSports.com, Fox Sports app

As Morocco faces France in the World Cup semifinal, many players and fans of both diverse teams grapple with family tales of colonial history, challenges of ...

“And it’s an honor and a pleasure to face France. “I’m a dual national, and that’s an honor and a pleasure,” the Moroccan coach said. “Most of the Moroccan players who were born abroad chose Morocco as their national team because they feel they play for more than just to win a football match,” said Maher Mezahi, a Marseille-based Algerian journalist covering African football. Like Morocco’s supporters at home and an estimated 5 million scattered around Europe and beyond, many players grapple with family tales of colonial history, the challenges of immigration and questions of national loyalty. In Morocco, people have embraced the team's foreign-born players as their native sons. Young Moroccans, she said, “speak English instead of French, they buy more American products than French ones and even those who want to seek a better life abroad try to avoid France.”

Les Bleus has shaken off a raft of injuries and the supposed 'world champions curse' to make a second successive semifinal run — though they were arguably ...

2 to 69),](https://www.att.com/idpassets/pdfs/channel_lineups/Uverse_Channel_Lineup.pdf) 2 to 70),](https://my.dish.com/cms-files/channelcards/2022/0929/Channel_Lineup.pdf) TV (Spanish) TV (English) [Fox (bt. 11:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Fox Sports and Telemundo will handle coverage of World Cup matches in English and Spanish, respectively. In the knockouts, only slot 4 and 5 are in play. Fans in the USA can watch the France vs Morocco match on TV in English or Spanish. Morocco, meanwhile, continue to shock and delight pundits and fans alike with their phenomenal giantkilling run.

TIME reports from Paris as questions over identity, race, and colonialism loom over Wednesday's historic semi-final.

“I think it’s a political mistake,” Benjamin Lucas, a Greens member of the French parliament, [told a radio show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nema6Z0gM5w) on Monday, in reference to Macron’s decision to go cheer on the French team in Qatar. [deaths of construction workers](https://time.com/6237677/qatar-migrant-deaths-world-cup/) who built the World Cup’s infrastructure. “This is a pivotal moment for the Arab world, and much of the African continent too,” says Monica Marks, a scholar on North African politics at New York University Abu Dhabi, who watched Saturday’s Morocco-Portugal game in Barbès. “The expectations are huge.” In 2018, Macron was in Moscow to see France play the World Cup final and, after their win, enveloped Mbappé in a bear hug, choking back tears. “There are a lot of tensions about cultural identity,” she says. “Morocco is the best, and they are going to win,” he says, asking to be quoted as Mohamed Sisi, a name he confesses is not his. For the millions of North Africans in France, and Paris in particular, the contest between the two countries is deeply personal—and even political. “This is not just football,” says Emmanuel Rivière, head of international polling at Kantar Public, a polling agency in Paris. Dermanin also said that more personnel could be added if France triumphs—with the possibility of huge crowds turning out to celebrate. When I’m in Morocco, I’m 100% Moroccan,” says Benjamin El Jaziri, 69, owner of L’Atlas, a Moroccan restaurant on Paris’s Left Bank, which has served traditional couscous and tajine dishes since El Jaziri bought the large space in 1991. The heavily Muslim suburbs around Paris and other cities, or banlieues as they are known, have spawned a remarkable number of soccer stars.

Defending World Cup champions France will hope to continue their repeat bid when they face a surprising Morocco side which has already gone further than any ...

2 hrs 40 mins from kickoff: France have broken a recent trend of defending champions not doing much in the way of defending their title. 1hr 15 mins from kickoff: And this is what the France team looks like. To redress the balance, here's Sofiane Boufal dancing with his mum. 1st minute: The game is underway. Mbappe cutting in from the left on this occasion. The attack stays alive and Giroud really should have his fifth of the competition as he shoots wide. He's down the France right now, does some stepovers but sends his cross into the side netting from a good position. His effort is half-blocked but it falls to Kolo Muani to tap home at the back post. The ball breaks on Azzedine Ounahi and his shot skids through the crowd to be blocked on the line by Jules Kounde. Didier Deschamps can become the first coach in history to win the World Cup twice. Bono (GK) — 2. The Paris Saint-Germain star had his first effort blocked and a second looped up off Oliver Giroud, with Hernandez alive to the possibilities as he found an acrobatic finish.