France edged past Morocco during a frenetic semifinal clash to secure their place in Sunday’s World Cup final, with the reigning world champions holding off a spirited display from the North African side to win 2-0.

Left-back Theo Hernandez put France ahead after just five minutes at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday, firing an acrobatic effort past Yassine Bounou from close-range to become the first opposition player to score against the Atlas Lions in Qatar.

 Morocco responded forcefully to the early setback, controlling the majority of possession and pressing for an equaliser either side of half-time.

France, who for large periods were second-best, held out nonetheless and Randal Kolo Muani put the game to bed late on, tapping home from close range in the 79th minute to set up a showdown with Argentina in four days’ time.

France are looking to become the first team to retain the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.

Morocco, the first Arab and first African country to make it to a World Cup semifinal, will face Croatia in a third-place play-off on Saturday.

Source Al Jazeera 

BDST: 0322 HRS, DEC 15, 2022
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