World Cup 2022: Morocco prepare to make history against France in semi-final– live | World Cup 2022

I’m a bit of bit demob completely happy, as that is truly my final stint on the World Cup information weblog. Tomorrow I’ve bought Harry & Meghan duties to resume after which I’m vacation till Christmas Eve.

Everything concerning the internet hosting preparations of this match has been deeply disagreeable kind the way in which the match was awarded, to the individuals killed in the development of the venues, to the oppression of LGBTQ+ rights and the way in which safety workers have been confiscating garments and gadgets off followers getting into the stadium. Let’s not put that fully to one facet.

However, I all the time assume with these type of sporting events, it wasn’t Hakim Ziyech who awarded the occasion to Qatar, it wasn’t Olivier Giroud who was overseeing the development, it isn’t down to the gamers the state of affairs Fifa has put them in. And the soccer has been extraordinarily pleasing.

I completely beloved the Japan comebacks and their heroic welcome again residence, I believed England did brilliantly and have been nice to watch even in defeat, I beloved the aggressive ambiance and the tenseness of the battle between Argentina and the Netherlands, the Morocco story has been wonderful, the drama of Brazil in a penalty shootout and the stubbornness of that Croatia facet, the shocks of wins for Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tunisia and Cameroon against much-fancied opponents, it has been a very nice competitors. And I feel any of the three groups who can win it from right here could be worthy winners. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us.

There’s contrasting scenes exterior the Al Bayt stadium, with a heavy safety presence in addition to Moroccan followers stopping to pray on the way in which into the match.

Unlike me, Croatia’s Lovro Majer is not going to be at Brisbane Road watching Leyton Orient at 3pm GMT on Saturday afternoon. He says he shall be doing his greatest to win the bronze medal on the World Cup as an alternative. In a social media message posted by Croatia’s FA, he’s quoted as saying:

Realistically talking, earlier than the beginning of the match we might all settle for to attain the semi-finals. However, now we’ve got began to dream concerning the trophy. Still we’ll give every thing we’ve bought on Saturday and take a look at to win the bronze medal.

Canada are nonetheless on the World Cup: confirmed

César Arturo Ramos is the referee tonight. The Mexican shall be assisted by his compatriots Alberto Morín and Miguel Hernández. The fourth official is Jesús Valenzuela of Venezuela.

The Mexican crew of officers have earlier with Morocco at this match, having overseen the Atlas Lions’ 2-0 victory over Belgium in the group levels. He booked Abdelhamid Sabiri in the 90+fifth minute of that sport. They have been additionally in cost of Denmark v Tunisia in the group levels, and Portugal v Switzerland in the spherical of 16.

The kits have been hung up in the dressing rooms on the Al Bayt stadium.

Reuters studies that Moroccan followers in Qatar for his or her crew’s World Cup semi last against France on Wednesday have been left struggling to discover tickets immediately.

Thousands of Moroccans have flown into Doha, many from Morocco and others from the diaspora in the Gulf and past, serving to fill stadiums with nationwide colors of purple and inexperienced.

Moroccans arriving in a single day on additional flights stated that they had anticipated to get tickets on arrival, however with hours to go they nonetheless didn’t know if they’d get them.

“Ninety-five percent of people on the plane didn’t have a ticket,” stated Mohammed, a Moroccan fan exterior Al Janoub stadium in Qatar, the place he waited for the match along with his spouse and three kids.

Mohammed Amzil, 30 and Mehdi Gandouze, 25, each Moroccans dwelling in Doha, queued all night time exterior the stadium and stated any free tickets they noticed handed out got to ladies.

“We spent the night here and the end of the day and we didn’t get anything,” Amzil stated, including that he had seen sporadic fights between a few of these ready.

I used to be fearful I hadn’t featured sufficient horses immediately, however thankfully some random in Marrakech has come to my rescue.

It has not been a relaxation day for Croatia immediately. They have been coaching forward of dealing with both Morocco or France in a reserve XI pleasant the third-place playoff sport on Saturday.

I’m positive it is going to be an awesome match. But I shall be at Brisbane Road watching Leyton Orient as an alternative on Saturday afternoon.

This is what Morocco coach Walid Regragui had to say when he was hauled earlier than the media earlier in the week:

I’m not going to arrange a plan to counter Mbappé. Unfortunately for us France produce other nice gamers. Griezmann is on his sport, Dembélé on the opposite wing is a superb complement to Mbappé.

To give attention to Mbappé could be a mistake. Hakimi is without doubt one of the greatest in the world in his place too so it is going to be an awesome duel between two champions, each going at it hell for leather-based. We shouldn’t give attention to Kylian however how we’ll trigger issues for France. I’m positive Hakimi shall be on high of his sport.

We need to try to do away with the mentality we maybe had earlier than. We got here with nice ambition and to change mindsets in our continent in specific. If we are saying we’re completely happy to attain the semi last, many individuals may see that as successful, however I don’t agree.

We’re probably the greatest 4 groups in the world now and we’ll give every thing. We’re assured, we’ve had maybe essentially the most troublesome run beating some high sides. The nearer we get to the ultimate, the nearer we get to our goals.

Here is a reminder of what France’s coach Didier Deschamps stated concerning the opposition tonight in his press briefing earlier this week:

They are a crew which have defended fairly effectively, however they aren’t solely defensive, in any other case they wouldn’t have reached the semi-finals. They even have some offensive instruments, however a defensive base, which is effectively organised and really rational.

With that they’ve ability due to attacking gamers like En-Nesyri, Ziyech or oufal, who can create issues for his or her opponents. They grasp their craft, identical to some other huge crew which are in the semi-finals. They have the ability to defend very effectively, for positive. They defend correctly.

They’re definitely the most effective crew in phrases of defence although, as I stated, they’re right here as a result of they’ll additionally rating objectives.

I believed half-and-half scarves have been dangerous sufficient – however half-and-half face-paint?

Fifa’s social media crew have picked what they assume are the massive 4 match-ups in tonight’s sport. They pit Hugo Lloris, Theo Hernandez, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Olivier Giroud against their Moroccan counterparts: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat and Youssef En-Nesyri.

One of the nice issues concerning the sharp finish of this World Cup now’s that whoever wins it from right here, the narrative is phenomenal.

Argentina? Messi lastly will get his World Cup winner’s medal. La albiceleste are again on high of the world for the primary time since 1986 in their first World Cup for the reason that demise of Maradona. Lionel Scaloni comes because the coach out of nowhere to raise the best prize. The considered the look on Cristiano Ronaldo’s face as Messi picks up the trophy.

France? Mbappé crowns his younger profession with a winner’s medal. The nation turn out to be the primary crew to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Didier Deschamps wins it twice as a coach, including to successful it as a participant. Olivier Giroud, World Cup winner.

Morocco? The first African champions of world soccer, having progressed via one of many hardest attainable routes you may ever have. A defensive powerhouse who took on Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal with out conceding a objective then bested France. The heroics of Yassine Bounou in objective. The followers. The mums. The children.

Any of those could be nice, nice footballing tales.

Things you don’t need to be doing the day after dropping a World Cup semi-final? I’d say press conferences, judging by the expression on Zlatko Dalić’s face right here.

BBC TV presenter, golden boot winner, and potato snack endorser Gary Lineker has been speaking concerning the awarding of the match to Qatar on The News Agents podcast, PA studies.

Qatar 2022 secretary normal Hassan Al-Thawadi had criticised the BBC and Lineker for his or her protection of the opening sport which Al-Thawadi claimed didn’t current a “balanced view”. The BBC ignored the World Cup opening ceremony fully in favour of exhibiting a information bundle containing criticism of Qatar. Lineker stated:

We pointed info out at the start of the match – these info stay. Lots of individuals have been killed making the stadiums. Yes, the stadiums are extraordinary, essentially the most lovely ones most likely I’ve ever seen, however at an awesome value.

Homophobia is a matter right here, ladies’s rights are a bit of little bit of a problem right here.

For me, it was all the time actually extra concerning the corruption facet of it as a result of, as I stated beforehand, I feel just about each nation, together with our personal, has bought points. We are off to America in 4 years’ time, with Canada and Mexico, however clearly America’s an awfully racist nation, so there’s all the time points.

But it was extra the truth that we simply identified a number of info and significantly the facet of it being so corrupt – they stated it was going to be summer time and it was in the winter.

Asked if his views had shifted since arriving in Qatar, the previous England striker who performed on the 1986 and 1990 World Cups stated “I don’t think anything has particularly changed. It has been a cracking tournament but that’s football; football is a wonderful sport.”

Righto, my watch is over; right here’s Martin Belam again to escort you thru the afternoon. Ta-ra.

But right here’s one thing beautiful.

Oh man, and but extra horrible information.

This, from final night, is terrific and effectively price your time.

And another piece of reports, on the late Grant Wahl. What a loss he’s.

And so is that this: Gianluca Vialli is taking a break from his position with the Italian nationwide crew to try to overcome pancreatic most cancers. Godspeed, outdated mate.

Ach, that is brutal. Broja regarded a correct prospect final time period, and Chelsea, already struggling for objectives – solely two groups have fewer exterior the underside 5 – have misplaced a supply of them.

“If Morocco somehow pull another trick tonight,” says Ursolin Waxoh, “this will be the first final since 1950 with no European teams in it (in fact, if you want to get pedantic about it and consider that the 1950 tournament didn’t really have a final, it would be the first final since the initial World Cup in 1930 not to feature any Europeans).

In anticipation of the many, many think-pieces on the subject, here’s some thoughts on that:

– Europe still had half of the teams in the round of 16 and more than half of the quarter-finalists

– Europe has just 10% of the world population, its current stranglehold on world football can’t last anyway

– 14 of Morocco’s 26 players were born in Europe; several Argentinian players (including that Lionel guy) have played their whole professional careers in European clubs

So a Morocco-Argentina won’t quite be the death knell for European football. But still, it would be … significant?”

It’d be nice to see and I’d count on that, the way in which the world inhabitants goes, we’ll see extra of this in the longer term. The downside, I assume, is the monetary dominance of the European leagues and Premier League in specific, which signifies that so many high-level gamers depart their residence nation after they’re younger.

“Obviously there’s the skills and general Maradona stuff in that Maradona compilation,” emails Matt Northam, however the different factor I believed is: how profligate have been the remainder of the crew?! So many assists probabilities created that have been horribly missed. He bought 5 objectives and 5 assists in that match (don’t assume that’s been overwhelmed but?) however ought to’ve simply been extra.”

I agree. It’s exhausting to dispute what the put up says about his Mexico 86 effort being the best degree of soccer any particular person has attained.

So how do we predict tonight will go? Morocco have defended brilliantly in this competitors, and you may simply argue that Portugal have extra harmful attackers than France. The distinction, although, is that France have Kylian Mbappé, the knowhow of champions, and the aerial means of Raphäel Varane. Don’t underestimate this final bit – it’s a lot more durable to rating a header or from a set-piece against a crew with him in it than against one which has some other centre-back pairing. I look ahead to being laughed at ought to he make me look foolish.

This one is after the Portugal sport. I’m afraid to say that I used to be nowhere close to as sleek or as chilled when this was completed to me.

Rabat after Morocco certified for the World Cup. This is transfer can be fashionable at Jewish weddings.

Martin was speaking concerning the Moroccan followers only a bit in the past, so right here’s one thing I wrote yesterday about Morocco, the Moroccan mums, and Islam. Even with every thing that’s improper about this competitors, soccer being soccer, it delivers affirming magnificence.

Messi, although, is definitely the closest I’ve seen to this. He doesn’t have Maradona’s energy or drive of persona, however the shut management isn’t far off and the goalpower is completely different degree. What a blessing to have the ability to watch them each.

I used to be seven in 1986 and really, watching this compo of Maradona aged 43 is in much more mind-boggling now than it was then, as a result of then I believed this was regular best-player-in-the-world behaviour. I used to be most likely in my 20s once I realised somebody getting the ball and working round everybody on the opposite crew, in World Cup knockouts, was simply him – by no means thoughts on these pitches against that type of defending. Sit again, chill out and lose your grasp on actuality.

Afternoon all! I’ve some pleasure to share…

Right, I would like to go and have lunch, stroll the canine, and flick via my Panini sticker albums for a bit in anticipation, so I’ll hand you over to Daniel Harris for some time.

The English Premier League’s social media supervisor have to be anxious for all this to be over to allow them to get again to their typical content material rota. They are going for a Tottenham v Chelsea spin on tonight’s semi-final with Hugo Lloris and Hakim Ziyech actually in the body.

I used to be fearful for some time that the one footage that have been coming over the newswires from Doha confirmed simply Morocco followers, however thankfully it appears to be like like some French followers have turned up now too.

Regardless of the result tonight, France have made a powerful defence of their title. They are the primary defending champions to attain the semi-final of the next match for the reason that 1994 winners Brazil did it in France in 1998.

That 1998 successful French crew crashed out of the 2002 World Cup on the group stage which included a defeat to Senegal in the opening match. The 2002 champions Brazil have been knocked out on the quarter-final stage by France in 2006. 2006 winners Italy failed to win a match in South Africa in 2010, ending backside of Group F. Spain then had a nightmare in Brazil in 2014 as champions, opening up with a 5-1 hammering from the Netherlands after which dropping to Chile in the group stage. And the 2014 champions Germany had their worst ever World Cup in 2018, exiting on the group stage for the very first time.

Away from the World Cup for a second, the most recent version of Moving the Goalposts, the Guardian’s free ladies’s soccer e-newsletter, has dropped. In it Júlia Belas Trindade is writing about FC Viktoria Berlin. They are an formidable facet at present enjoying in the Regionalliga Nordost in the third tier in German ladies’s soccer, however aiming to attain the highest division in 5 years with Ariane Hingst, one of many membership’s co-founders and a two-times World Cup winner with Germany in 2003 and 2007, one of many important faces of the operation.

We predict Morocco’s followers to massively outnumber the French on the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor by the point kick off comes round – there’s about seven hours nonetheless to wait I’m afraid – and we’re already getting footage via of followers gathering in Doha.

France’s Theo Hernandez is undaunted by all of it, in accordance to his Twitter feed anyway.

Despite France being an in depth neighbour and a former colonial energy over Morocco, the 2 sides haven’t met often, and among the conferences have been a part of the Mediterranean Games, the place the nations despatched both amateurs or a B-team as a consultant. Morocco have by no means overwhelmed France.

The final time they performed one another was on the Stade de France in 2007, in a sport that completed 2-2. Morocco took an early eighth minute lead via Tarik Sektioui, after which Sidney Govou equalised after quarter-hour for a French crew that included William Gallas, Patrice Evra, Claude Makelélé and Karim Benzema. Samir Nasri thought he had gained it for the house facet in the 76th minute, however Moroccan substitute Youssef Mokhtari made it 2-2 with 5 minutes to go.

You can watch a highlights bundle of that match right here to get you in the temper. It is price noting that there are some cracking objectives, some dodgy goalkeeping, a particularly hostile ambiance, an extravagant pair of co-commentators who genuinely say “Oh là là!” at one level, and a bit of wrestling match that includes Lilian Thuram.

Croatia are nonetheless rightfully feeling pleased with their achievements at this World Cup, regardless of final night time’s defeat.

Are you a Moroccan fan? If so, our neighborhood crew are wanting to hear your views forward of tonight’s semi-final.

Away from the soccer for a minute, a three-judge panel will determine later immediately whether or not 4 suspects charged and arrested in a fraud scandal rocking the European parliament will keep in detention through the investigation or will be let loose.

Reuters studies that the investigation, throughout which Belgian police found large stacks of money as they raided the properties and places of work of EU lawmakers, parliamentary assistants and NGO campaigners has triggered one of many greatest corruption scandals to hit Brussels.

Prosecutors suspect Greek MEP Eva Kaili and three others accepted bribes from World Cup host Qatar in a bid to affect EU policymaking.

Kaili’s lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos informed Reuters on Tuesday that his shopper was harmless and Qatari officers have additionally denied any wrongdoing.

So, do you assume that they had a very good night time in Buenos Aires?

Adam White writes for us this morning on how, having confronted down England, Didier Deschamps can have to beat one other disciple to attain the World Cup last:

Of the various sudden tendencies at this World Cup, Didier Deschamps’ rising standing as worldwide soccer’s ideological spearhead often is the most shocking. The France coach could lack the revolutionary concepts of the managers who’ve moved the game ahead in current occasions, however his ever-effective philosophy boasts an more and more distinguished group of disciples.

Before England’s quarter-final defeat to France on Saturday, Gareth Southgate stated he was closely influenced by Deschamps’ method. Walid Regragui, the Morocco coach who shall be dealing with France in the semi-finals, has since added: “France made me dream in 2018 with the way they played. Deschamps understood how to do it – let’s stop with statistics.”

French followers may scoff on the time period “Deschampsism” but it surely has quietly turn out to be the main philosophy in trendy worldwide soccer. Deschamps has already seen off a number one disciple in Southgate, albeit with some luck. Repeating the trick against his fellow scholar Regragui could possibly be even trickier, as Morocco don’t have to combat against excessive expectations again residence.

Read extra right here: Adam White – Didier Deschamps has to beat one other disciple to attain the World Cup last

David Cook emails to say that he hopes that Morocco’s progress in this match will change a number of attitudes. He writes:

I hope that Morocco’s profitable marketing campaign in this competitors will stand them in good stead when subsequent we apply to stage the World Cup right here in Morocco. No extra patronizing feedback about third world international locations not having the ability to stage this competitors. Win inshallah, or lose tonight’s sport, the Morocco individuals will be pleased with the crew’s efficiency.

Morocco bid unsuccessfully to host the 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010 and 2026 tournaments. Indeed, one of many saddest issues nonetheless sitting in my draft folder of the Guardian content material administration system is an explainer on how the Morocco match in 2026 would work had they gained the bid.

I’m not petty^* however the French crew’s social media supervisor is basically annoying me, as a result of they preserve posting video clips on Twitter that seem to be geo-locked in order that I can’t see them in London with out resorting to the type of hooky web lash-ups I discovered again in the Napster and BitTorrent days.

Anyway, they’ve simply printed a really moody montage of coaching and press interview clips with the message “We expect a lot of adversity but the objective is to win”, and I’m not embedding it, as a result of I can’t assure you’ll have the ability to see it.

[^*I absolutely am petty, and in fact a reader emailed me yesterday to call me petulant which is possibly also true]

Do you fancy making use of for the job of head coach with Belgium? If so, it’s your fortunate week, as a result of the Belgian FA have posted the emptiness on-line.

Our new nationwide crew coach is extraordinarily formidable and has the mandatory top-level worldwide expertise, tactical data and insights in addition to the precise private expertise.

We are on the lookout for a serial winner with an expertise in managing high gamers. The new nationwide crew coach is aware of how to give attention to making a close-knit group and the way to combine younger gamers. He is a tactical professional who helps his decisions with knowledge, expertise and goal parameters and attracts on RBFA’s sporting experience and construction. He is aware of how to win trophies in high competitions.

The new nationwide crew coach is an envoy for Belgian soccer, serving to to promote the RBFA values and is obtainable full time.

Applications shut on 10 January. Good luck!

Some 10,000 cops shall be mobilised nationwide in France, of which 5,000 personnel shall be posted in the Ile-de-France area round Paris and a few 2,200 in the capital, double the safety workers than for earlier key World Cup matches, inside minister Gerald Darmanin stated on France 2 tv immediately.

“Our Moroccan friends, just like the French supporters, are welcome to organise a party and our job is not to stop them from partying … but this will have to be done under good security conditions,” Reuters studies Darmanin stated.

France is a former colonial ruler of Morocco and has a big Moroccan diaspora, concentrated primarily round Paris and the Mediterranean coast space.

Darmanin stated the Paris Champs Elysees is not going to be closed on Wednesday however is likely to be closed on Sunday night following the World Cup last. The Paris police prefecture stated safety forces will give attention to the Champs Elysees to stop vandalism and aggression.

Darmanin stated that a lot may depend upon the climate, as France is experiencing an uncommon chilly spell, with temperatures under zero and snow anticipated in a big swathe of northern France.

“The weather, which is not very suitable for outdoor gatherings, but we expect that no matter the weather, people will want to express their happiness, which is indeed legitimate,” Darmanin stated.

Associated Press have had individuals out and about in Rabat forward of tonight’s match speaking to individuals about their emotions as Morocco face France.

Hind Sabouni, a 26-year-old English trainer in Morocco’s capital stated “This game is one of a kind, especially since France is next to beat. We can show the rest of the world that Morocco is no longer France’s back yard.”

Sabouni stated her era of Moroccans is uninterested in France’s dominance. Young Moroccans, she stated, “speak English instead of French, they buy more American products than French ones and even those who want to seek a better life abroad try to avoid France.”

“Even though this is just a football game, some people view it as an opportunity for revenge,” Sabouni stated.

But not everybody.

Kenza Bartali, a communications skilled in Rabat, sees no political overtones to the match. She obtained her masters diploma in France, and lived for 2 years in Paris and the southern cities of Nice and Toulon between 2016 and 2018. She made “wonderful friends” who’re nonetheless her pals immediately. “Most Moroccan students were treated with respect,” the 26-year-old stated.

Still, there isn’t a doubt which crew she’s supporting.

“I sincerely hope that Morocco advances to the final,” Bartali stated. “I am aware that it will be difficult because France is a very good team, but we are hoping for the best.”

If you want your interior soccer nerd wants scratching, then don’t have any worry, as a result of the Knowledge is right here with the reply to questions like “Which team won the World Cup with the longest pre-tournament odds?”, “Who are the top-ranked club side globally to not have any World Cup players in Qatar?”, “Which footballer has turned the least successful playing career into a successful punditry career?” and “What is the largest animal you believe you could catch if it was fired directly at you from a cannon at a distance of thirty metres?”

OK, perhaps not the final one. Get your solutions right here.

I’ve bought lots of time for Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić’s feedback after the match final night time, as reported by Reuters:

I’ve nothing to blame the boys for, now we’ve got to increase our heads and prepare for the sport that awaits us. If somebody had provided us this earlier than the match, we might have accepted it. We are actually proud.

Club soccer is starting to intrude. Erik ten Hag has stated he doesn’t know when Jadon Sancho will return to motion with Manchester United, saying there are “physical but also mental” points to cope with.

The ahead began the season effectively with three objectives earlier than the worldwide break in September, however has not performed since United’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea on 22 October. Ten Hag stated he had seen a notable dip in Sancho’s confidence after the 22-year-old was ignored of the England squad for the Nations League matches in September.

Last night time was a kind of evenings the place I really feel for individuals who don’t take pleasure in soccer. Tense and tight, after which instantly the breakthrough. I truly set free an involuntary “Oh my god what a goal” when Julián Álvarez scored Argentina’s second. The drive. The dedication. He had simply steamrollered his manner via the Croatia defence and was not taking no for a solution.

Then you watch it in slow-motion, and also you realise it includes a sequence of fortunate touches off of defenders again into his path and he nearly retains it underneath his management earlier than the end. The superb margins at this degree are unbelievable. What a objective. What a time and place to rating it. The official highlights are right here – the primary Álvarez objective begins about 55 seconds in.

Morocco’s nationwide airline cancels fan flights to Doha citing ‘restrictions imposed by Qatari authorities’

The magnificent Football Weekly podcast has been barely wrongly named throughout this match, as we’ve been protecting Max and the gang up in any respect hours to analyse occasions almost on daily basis. Last night time was no exception. Join Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini, John Brewin and Marcela Mora y Araujo to hear them talk about Argentina’s breathtaking victory final night time.

Preamble