Qatar 2022: France Ends Morocco’s Fairytale Run, To Face Argentina In Final

By Akinwale  Kasali

Goals in either half from Theo Hernandez and Kolo Muani was all the France Team needed to book a place in the final of the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup, after a pulsating encounter with the Atlas Lion of Morocco.

As expected, the Moroccans gave the France team a good run for their money in the Semi Finals at the Al Bayt Stadium, as Coach Walid Regragui of Morocco stuck with the starting line- up that defeated Spain and Portugal.

But the fire power of the France Team could not be matched by the less fancied African Team.

Hernandez scored the opener as early as the fifth minute to send fear into the spines of the Moroccans who never rested on their oars to find the equalizer which never came to reality.

On two occasions, the Moroccans hit the woodwork, calling the France Goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris into action, forcing him to make great saves.

Also, the partnership of Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate paid off as they made some goal line clearance, so also was Jules Kounde who did same late in the second half.

Less than 25 seconds after coming in to replace Ousmane Dembele, Kolo Muani pounced a deflecting ball from a shot from Kylian Mbappe to tap in the second goal of the match.

As the Mexican referee signaled the end of the pulsating encounter, the Moroccan players and their fans could not hold back tears, as they wept bitterly for failing to get to the finals.

With the defeat, Morocco will face Croatia in the third place match on Saturday, 17th December, 2022, at the Al Bayt Stadium.

The Croatians lost to the Argentina National Team 3-0, with Julian Alvarez scoring a brace while Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot.

France will take on Argentina in the finals, with the European Nation gunning to defend the World Cup triumph it won four years ago in Russia.

For the Argentine side, Messi will be hoping to make history as winning his first World Cup trophy and giving the Argentines the World Cup it has failed to win since 1986.

The last time Argentina won the World Cup, Late Diego Armando Maradona led the Albaceleiste to the Trophy.