DOHA: Defending champions France will bank on their experienced squad against an energetic and spirited Moroccan squad who are relishing their first ever appearance in the semifinals of the Fifa World Cup.
France head coach Didier Deschamps will be looking to his star-studded squad to deliver the ticket to the final. Kylian Mbappe, Oliver Giroud, captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele among others are expected to start the match.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui can also bank on some experienced players like Achref Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, goalkeeper Yassine Gaunou, striker Youseff En-Nesyri and Romain Saiss in the key encounter.
While Les Bleus are bidding to become the first side to retain football’s most prized trophy since Brazil 60 years ago, the Atlas Lions could make further history by becoming the first team from outside Europe and South America to reach the final.
The defending champions are unbeaten in their five previous matches against Morocco (three wins, two draws) – all in friendlies or mini-tournaments. The most recent encounter was a 2-2 draw at the Stade de France in November 2007.
France have competed in six previous FIFA World Cup semifinals, losing the first three – to Brazil in 1958 (2-5) and West Germany in both 1982 (3-3, 4-5 penalties) and 1986 (0-2) – but winning the three most recent – against Croatia in 1998 (2-1), Portugal in 2006 (1-0) and Belgium in 2018 (1-0).
KEY FACTS
This is France’s sixth appearance in the Fifa World Cup semifinals in their last nine participations in the finals.
France are the first World Cup holders to reach the semifinals since Brazil in 1998.
France have been successful in 15 of their last 17 World Cup knockout ties (including one penalty shoot-out win).
France have won each of their last six World Cup knockout matches.
Morocco are only the third nation outside of Europe or South America to reach the semifinals of the Fifa World Cup, following the USA (1930) and Korea Republic (2002).
Morocco are the 25th nation to compete in the semifinals of the World Cup. They are the only nation in this year’s semifinals who have yet to feature in the semifinals.
Morocco are unbeaten in their last six Fifa World Cup matches (W3, D3). This is their best unbeaten streak at the finals.
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