France vs Morocco Highlights: France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach FIFA World Cup final

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Full time! Referee blows the final whistle and defending champions France are through to the final for the second tournament running! A fifth minute opener by left back Theo Hernandez followed by another in the 80th minute by Randal Kolo Muani sealed France’s final ticket, where they will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Sunday. France are now the first European nation since Germany in 1990 to reach consecutive World Cup final while Brazil did the same back in 1998 and 2002.

France 2-0 Morocco at FT

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

90+3’ Morocco fans are in tears already with Ounahi skips past multiple challenges to fire a shot over the woodwork.Will that inspire Morocco with three minutes to go!

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

90’ France are running down the clock now with FIFA World Cup final awaiting as Morocco attacks lack the venom with six minutes of injury time added at the end of 90 minutes.

France 2-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

79’ GOOOAALLL! Randal Kolo Muani scores seconds after coming in as a substitute as he was present at the far post alone for a loose ball following Mbappe’s mazy run that dragged the entire Morocco defence towards him. Kolo Muani found the ball nicely rolling towards him after Mbappe’s effort was blocked and made no mistake to put into the net. The goal is somewhat similar to the opening goal as Mbappe was key in both cases. That was Muani’s first international goal and couldn’t have come at a better time.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

74’ Fofana! The midfielder came close to scoring there as he played a one-two with Marcus Thuram on the left flank only to curl it wide the post. A glance to the middle of the box suggests it would have been wiser to pass to Mbappe standing alone there.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

72’ France almost doubled the lead! Marcus Thuram stretched his legs at the back post to reach a well-taken set piece by Griezmann but the ball wizz past the other side of the post. The indirect freekick was won by Thuram himself, who was taken down by Dari.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

68’ Substitute Attiyah-Allah reaches to a lose ball down the left flank after French defence made an error but the winger’s cross was collected by French custodian Lloris as it was too high for Aboukhlal to reach on the jump

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

65’ Substitution from both the sides with France taking off Giroud for Marcus Thuram while Regragui brings in forwards Abderazzak Hamdallah and Zakaria Aboukhlal for Yousseff En Nesyri and Boufal

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

63’ As French attack quarter continue to threat on the counter, Boufal made a cut-in run into the French box but Griezmann dropped back in the defence to take the space way from the Morracan.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

57’ Ziyech and Ounahi combine on the right-flank to presnet an opportunity for Hakimi on the turn but Varane blocks the supply. France defenders seem adamant to not let Morocco forwards breathe inside the box. 

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

54’ Morocco get close! With the crowd backing them with loud cheers, Morocco charged down the right flank through Hakimi, whose cross to En Nesyri was blocked by Varane on the turn. Right after, Boufal made the run through the left flank to put in a cross in the middle but the effort was cleared by Kounate before Ounahi could reach it. We have a game!

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

52’ Mbappe charges down the left flank on the counter before Amrabat won the ball from him deep in the attacking third. Mbappe stayed on the ground holding his feet as the game was halted but was back on his feet soon after following some medical assistance.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

49’ Mbappe gives fresh momentum to France after the break as he was involved in two back-to-back attacks. He first ran deep down the left-flank but his cross was too powerful to find a teammate. Right after, Griezmann set him through from the midfield but Bounou was quick off his line to nullify the danger.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Half-time substitution: Morocco coach Walid Regragui makes a change at half time as Mazraoui is taken off due to injruy and is replaced by Yahia Attiyah Allah.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

While players catch a breather at half-time, let’s admire this acrobatic effort by Theo Hernandez again. Nothing less would have unlocked a stubborn Morocco defence, who conceded to an opponent player for the first time this tournament.

France 1-0 Morocco at HT

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Half time After Morocco finish the half strongly as Ziyech’s and Hakimi’s persistency from the left flank earned them three late corners and an indirect free kick and the Moroccans ensured that France defenders remained busy as they Ziyech’s delivery were of quality. France defence, however, are up to the task with Kounate showing he is not just a back-up centre back.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

43’ El Yamiq hits the post with a bicycle kick! What an effort by the centre back there, who patiently waited for the third ball of the corner to fall to him. The corner was a result of some sleek work by Hakimi and Ziyech on the left flank as the former was released on the right flank but was blocked by Kanoute.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

39’ France with another promising counter attack from the right flank as Griezmann darted with the ball while threatening to shoot with his favoured left-foot but the attempt was intercepted by a diving El Yamiq challenge. That’s years of experience in that challenge as it was inch perfect!

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

35’ Morocco attack is mostly trying to build the attack through the flanks but are falling prey to France midfield press and being caught on the counter. This time it was Tchouameni, who won the ball and found Mbappe free on the left flank. The forward raced with the ball towards the goal to beat the keeper but his effort was blocked by a diving Morocco centre back. The block ricocheted to Giroud, who fires one off the target. Morocco barely alive in the game!

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

That finish by Theo Hernandez has certainly pleased a lot of strikers around the globe, including his teammate Olivier Giroud

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

28’ Morocco are seeing a lot of the ball at the moment but are unable to get inside the French box. That is surely frustrating the Morocco attackers as winger Sofiane Boufal becomes the first booking of the match after he takes down Theo Hernandez just outside the French box.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

20’ No surprises there as Morocco captain Romain Saiss is unable to continue anymore and is helped out of the field with Selim Amallah replacing him. The skipper was always in doubt for the game with an existing injury but it was a risk Morocco was willing to take with the biggest match of their life.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

17’ Giroud hits the post! Morocco are living dangerously here as the famous French counter attack is showing its quality again. Morocco captain Saiss, who looks in discomfort, was in fault here as he was late to reach a long ball, allowing Giroud to quickly counter from the left flank but his left-footed effort went out of play after hitting the post.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

14’ After falling behind in the game, Morocco are forced to do something that they were never asked to do before in this competition before! That’s chasing the game. It is going to be a real test of character for Morocco attack now. They certainly have the quality in Hakimi Ziyech, Youssef En Nesyri, Ounahi among others to pose a threat! So far they are unable to find an opening as France are holding tight.

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

5’ GOOOOAALLLL! France take the lead from the very first attack of the night! It was left-back Theo Hernandez with an acrobatic effort after Kylian Mbappe’s goal-bound effort rubbed off a Morocco defender before falling in front of Theo to hit into the net. Not an easy goal to hit, great poaching instict by the defender there!

France 1-0 Morocco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

3’ The match is underway with Morocco keeping earlier possession at the back but are not trying to get into the attacking half while waiting for France to press

France 0-0 Monaco

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Moroccans were all pumped up during the national anthem as the entire sang loudly in unison with the stadium singing loud at the same time, goosebumps!

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Both teams are out for the national anthem with France’s La Marseillaise is being played first and will be followed by Morocco’s Cherifian Anthem

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco
We are just 10 minutes away from kick-off as the 68,000-odd-capacity Al Bayt Stadium is all-packed for the second semifinal!

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Both the teams have arrived at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor already as we are less than 20 minutes away from the kick-off!

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Morocco’s dream run at the FIFA World Cup is down to their mean defence, who doesn’t like to concede. But do they have the strength to stop the France goal machine Kylian Mbappe, who requires a goal tonight to take his goal tally to six as the undisputed leader in the golden boot race.

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Line-ups are out! Didier Deschamps makes two changes to their playing XI with centre back Ibrahim Konate replaces Dayot Upamecano in like-for-like changes. A similar change was in the midfield with Adrien Rabiot being dropped for Youssouf Fofana. The changes are not surprising as both Rabiot and Upamecano were reported to be down with illness ahead of the semis.

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

That’s one duel worth a watch! The sheer pace that Kylian Mbappe generates on the left flank require someone as quick as Achraf Hakimi in right back position to nullify. But at the biggest stage when it matters the most, who will come good in this battle?

FIFA World Cup semi-final Live: France vs Morocco

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the second FIFA World Cup semi-finals that sees defending champions France take on the sole remaining dark horses of the tournament in Morocco, who carry the baton for both the Arab and African worlds. France are overwhelming favourites with joint top-scorer of the tournament Kylian Mbappe leading the charge. However, Morocco are no pushover, and handing exit tickets to Spain and Portugal earlier pay testimony to that. Read further below for a full preview.