At Al Bayt Stadium, Theo Hernandez gave France an early lead before Randal Kolo Muani, a replacement, defeated a strong Morocco 2-0.
France is now set to play Lionel Messi and Argentina in the championship game, looking to become the first team to do so since Brazil in 1962.
Morocco has been the biggest surprise of Qatar 2022, and Walid Regragui’s team did a great job of coming back after Hernandez scored the first goal in the fifth minute. They kept the world champions away for long periods of time with a brave and skilled performance.
Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt, though, was a surprise winner for France. He scored with his first touch after Kylian Mbappe’s shot was blocked 11 minutes from the end.
Morocco had only allowed one goal all tournament, and it was an own goal, as they became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals.
All three players—Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguard, and Noussair Mazraoui—were deemed healthy enough to play, but West Ham’s Aguard pulled out after the pregame warmup, and Saiss, who was the captain, was taken off midway through the first half because he was clearly having trouble.
That doubt appeared to be a factor in the disorganized France opening, in which Antoine Griezmann took advantage of Jawad El Yamiq’s slip to pass the ball back to Kylian Mbappe. Hernandez was alert to the possibilities as he produced an acrobatic finish after Hernandez’s first effort was blocked and a second was looped up by Oliver Giroud.
Saiss’ thigh gave out, and Giroud hit the post. However, Hugo Lloris had already stopped Azzedine Ounahi at full stretch before that, and El Yamiq nearly made up for his mistake with an overhead kick that smacked the base of the post.
After the break, Mbappe attempted to put France back in the game, but Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech emerged as the game’s best striker, directing a number of deft attacks down the right side.
Only after Dayot Upemacano was unable to play due to sickness did Ibrahima Konate make last-ditch clearances, and France only gained breathing room when Kylian Mbappe’s fast feet created space for a half-blocked shot that dropped nicely for Kolo Muani, who had played for only 44 seconds.
Morocco’s incredible run will live on in people’s minds for a long time.
