FIFA '22: Morocco Lacked Killer Touch

Absence of a killer touch that cost Morocco

France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the final: Mbappe v Messi, Amrabat’s tackle and a rare fast start!!!!

France withstood an impressive Morocco display to set up a World Cup final with Argentina on Sunday that pits Kylian Mbappe against his Paris Saint-Germain FC team-mate Lionel Messi.

Theo Hernandez, who came into the France side in the first game when his brother Lucas suffered a tournament-ending knee injury, scored the opening goal after just five minutes, acrobatically steering the ball past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Morocco had plenty of possession but failed to draw level and one of France’s substitutes, Randal Kolo Muani, made it 2-0 with 11 minutes of normal time left after excellent play by Mbappe.

This France team are one step from greatness. And so, Qatar’s World Cup has the kind of final that will have Qatar Sports Investments, owners of Paris Saint-Germain FC since 2011, as well as a global audience, drooling.

Neymar may have gone with Brazil’s quarter-final elimination, but Sunday’s showpiece will see a tete-a-tete between Messi and Mbappe, the other stellar elements of PSG’s (Paris Saint-Germain) forward line, at the Lusail Stadium. The pair are the tournament’s joint leading scorers, competing for the Golden Boot. 

In that context, it might be easy to forget that the meeting between these two countries in the first knockout round of the previous World Cup in 2018 produced seven goals and one of the greatest games this tournament has ever given us.

The French prevailed that day in Russia. They will feel they can do so again in Qatar, fired as they are by Antoine Griezmann’s creative majesty and the firepower they boast across their forward ranks. They have beaten England and Morocco in the last two rounds with Mbappe only firing in fits and starts. The qualities like throw in Aurelien Tchouameni’s increasing authority in midfield and the canny and much-needed defensive know-how of Raphael Varane and Hugo Lloris - the Tottenham goalkeeper have enough conviction to be pepped. One more success will see France become the first nation to retain the World Cup in 60 years.

The French coach Didier Deschamps is already etched into this competition’s folklore as a winner as both a player and manager.

Repeat the feat from Moscow this weekend in Doha and he probably qualifies to take the trophy home himself as a keepsake.

Morocco memories will last a lifetime. What a journey for Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final and a team who played with so much courage throughout this tournament. The 2-0 scoreline makes it look like this was a fairly comfortable night for France but that was anything but the case. Morocco were excellent and not in any way overawed by the occasion. Unfortunately, it was the absence of a killer touch that cost them.

The skirmish in the French penalty area in stoppage time that finished with Abderrazak Hamdallah unable to turn the ball home, after the superb Azzedine Ounahi saw his shot blocked, rather summed up their evening in front of goal.

There were tears at the end among their supporters but Walid Regragui and his players have done their country and their continent proud. They have created memories that will last a lifetime and return home as heroes. 

Anyone like Griezmann with  the new nickname “PVAntoine”? — because Antoine Griezmann is the glue that brings France’s play together (like famously branded Pantone glue stick). Ha ha!!!

In his 73rd consecutive appearance for France, Griezmann showed his quality yet again in his latest role with Didier Deschamps’ team.

Even a quick look at his touch map shows you Griezmann was everywhere against Morocco. When he was on the ball, he was composed, neat and tidy. Off the ball he was disciplined, defensively aware, yet aggressive.

His best moment came in the early stages, where he made space in his favoured right channel to spin away behind Morocco’s back line to pull the ball back for Mbappe — which led to France’s opener.

At the other end, when Morocco were in the ascendancy at the start of the second half, they broke France’s defensive line and got in down the right. Who was there to hoover it up? You guessed it.

Griezmann is a conductor even when he’s not on the ball. You could regularly find him pointing to where a team-mate should pass the ball. Hugo Lloris may be France’s captain, but the presence and experience that Griezmann provides cannot be underestimated as they prepare for their second consecutive World Cup final.

Inside five minutes, Achraf Hakimi was at full-stretch, blocking Mbappe’s attempt to sweep home after Griezmann had escaped in the right channel. Morocco could not clear the danger, though, and Theo Hernandez hooked home the loose ball. 

This duel only worked one way. Mbappe had no interest in tracking Hakimi when the Morocco right-back (he started as a wing-back), broke forward to support Hakim Ziyech. Not surprisingly — and this was an area that England also targeted in the quarter-final — Morocco had plenty of joy attacking down the French left as a result of Mbappe staying high.

This is all about the FIFA World Cup 2022 second semi Final. France will take on Argentina on the 18th December in the final at Lusail Iconic stadium, Qatar.