Clinical France end dream run of Morocco and will face Argentina in 2022 FIFA World Cup final
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Theo Hernandez after scoring for France
Lionel Messi versus Kylian Mbappe is the dream match a script-writer would have conjured up before the FIFA World Cup began. At Al Khor, Qatar, Mbappe and magical France out-gutted Morocco 2-0 on Wednesday night for a final date with Argentina. Mbappe did not score in the semi-final but his enigmatic presence sufficed as France found in Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Kunai two goal-scorers who showed why this French side is rated so highly.
Sunday’s final will indeed be a head bangers ball as Argentina versus France in the 2022 World Cup final best defines two teams that have produced fantasy football. People talk of El Clasico in club football as being the ultimate thing. If the World Cup needed an El Clasico or piece de resistance, it will be this contest between Argentina and France, two teams with flair ready to win fortunes in the deserts of Qatar.
No reference to natural gas and oil reserves which Qatar has in abundance, but the World Cup trophy and prize money will be grabbed by the winners. Pre-match and math prediction for France versus Morocco was of a contest that would rise to heights of Eiffel Tower proportions. Just as engineer Gustave Eiffel submitted the best plan among 100 people to build this historic piece of architectural delight in Paris, the football that France produced against Morocco was simple and clinical.
To have barged into the lead by the fifth minute through a goal by Theo Hernandez was the sort of beginning that France needed. Given Morocco’s penchant to play tight defense, for the French team to take off like the Rafale Dassault fighter jet was supersonic. To clinch a 1-0 lead so early in the World Cup semi-final showed the Frenchmen are ready to recreate history.
This team, managed by Didier Deschamps has been far too efficient, in many ways. There were glitches before the World Cup for France. Looking back, it seems, the men left behind at home due to injuries, did well to spend time in recovery. France has shown they are multi-dimensional and so talented, they can rock any side today. A 2-0 scoreline, punctuated by efficiency and zero nerves is what made them stand out.
Psychological warfare is used these days before a big match. Morocco had been hyped as giant killers, and rightly so. They had whacked the heavyweights from Europe, Gigabytes of which have already been written over the last few weeks. The defense has been their strength and not conceding a goal choked many teams Morocco hammered till the semi-finals. If the defense was their strength, then, in the semi-final, defense became their weak area against France. Why? Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, and Noussair Marzaoui were cooling their heels by the half time. The Morocco defense had worked wonders against the European leading lights like Belgium, Croatia, Spain, and then Portugal through the draw in the modern stadia of Qatar.
Related: Karim Benzema can play for France in the 2022 World Cup Final against Argentina due a FIFA loophole
Despite bowing out to France, Morocco have earned the respect of fans around the world
For the sheer effort and playing like lions, Morocco won hearts, again. They will not hold the trophy on Sunday. If marks or grades are awarded for playing without fear and taking on the big bullies, Morocco has captured billions of hearts and made the global football audience captive. This was not a one-off effort nor was this something that happened because of playing in Qatar.
Loud drum beats, familiar faces in the stands cheering them, the entire Arab world uniting to back Morocco, this is the big story of FIFA World Cup 2022. Forget for a moment Messi versus Mbappe in the final. Morocco has found news stars who rank on top for sheer dint of hard work they put in and how they played as a team. This is where coach Morocco Walid Regragui has shown that you do not need to be an European top brand to mold a team that welds men and melts hearts.
Walid is the name given to a newborn masculine child in Arabic. This Walid from Morocco has shown how to build a side, fire them up and deliver. Surely, the world has taken note of this man, humble and devoted to the job. “We gave the maximum, that’s the most important thing. The most important thing is to have given a good image, to have shown the world that Moroccan football exists and we have beautiful supporters,” said the coach after the match.
If Qatar has seen the birth of Moroccan football, France has shown another revolution, to become a unique side like Brazil of yesteryears, making it to back-to-back World Cup finals. Cup. Didier Deschamps has been the brain behind Les Bleues playing football which has been sharp and efficient. They have never looked, even once, vulnerable. Certainly, in a team sport like football, Deschamps is the boss who commands respect from all his players and the world. It’s a high-stress job, being the coach. Deschamps will be happy he got the job done till now as the global focus will shift to Lionel Messi and fulfilling the big dream for Argentina on Sunday.
One look at the match stats between France and Morocco shows the match was close. The Arab side had chances and fought till the last minute before they hit the deck. Not with a thud, but to kiss the grass on the football turf and walk out with heads held high. Wallah, (By God, literal meaning in Arabic), the world needs more such performances from the Arab teams by the 2026 World Cup.
Yes, France versus Argentina is Europe versus Latin America. Do not rule out Arab nations and Muslim countries taking to football with even more passion. They have large hearts and do not fear. Some belong to Asia and some to Africa. They stand united, in victory and defeat, in football. Isn’t that beautiful?
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