Morocco’s dream run at the FIFA World Cup 2022 came to an end after the Arab-African country lost to France in the second semi-final clash.
Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani rose to the occasion and provided the French side with a brilliant win at the Al Bayt Stadium on Thursday.
France, hence, became the first defending champions to qualify for consecutive World Cup finals since Brazil did it in 1998. France will now face Argentina in the summit clash of the tournament on Sunday.France are looking to become the first side since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. They do, though, come up against a history-making Moroccan side fighting to become the first African nation to reach the final.
Morocco will now play Croatia, with whom they drew in their opening game of the tournament, in the third place playoff on Saturday. France advanced to face Argentina in Sunday’s final at Lusail Stadium.
Morocco’s defeat ends their historic run at the tournament in which they beat Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds to become the first African country to reach the last four, as well as gathering support from across the Arab world and beyond.
They are only the second non-European or South American country to make it to the semifinals after South Korea reached the same stage as co-hosts in 2002.
France might not be quite the side they were in 2018, but four years on from their triumph in Russia, and they are firmly in the hunt to defend their World Cup title.