cup - players.bio | Page 1555

World Cup Qatar 2022™ preview: France vs Morocco

Follow all the action from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on beIN SPORTS Defending champions France face off against Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday evening with a place in the FIFA World Cup final on the line. France edged out England in a tetchy quarter-final to reach the final four, whilst Morocco continued their sensational run in Qatar by getting the better of Portugal with a 1-0 win. In the process, Morocco became the first Arabic and African nation to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup tournament. France had a fair amount of luck in their quarter-final against England and perhaps without that late missed penalty from Harry Kane may have already been on the aeroplane back home. However, some stout defending and a powerful header from Olivier Giroud ensured that Les Bleus progressed to the semi-finals. Reassuringly, France has been successful in their last three visits to the FIFA World Cup, winning their last three appearances in 1998, 2006 and 2018. Although the fact that France has yet to keep a clean sheet yet in Qatar whilst coming up against the best defensive side left in the tournament would be a concern for Didier Deschamps. In team news, France is expected to name an unchanged side for this one, with Olivier Giroud the focal point in attack. blockquote class="twitter-tweet">

France v Morocco: Keys to World Cup semifinal

DOHA: World Cup holders France face Africa’s first-ever semifinalists Morocco in Wednesday’s last-four clash in Qatar. AFP Sport looks at some of the keys to the game. - Rock-solid Morocco - Morocco have conceded just one goal in the entire tournament — an own goal in their 2-1 win over Canada in the group stage — with Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal all failing to breach a rock-solid back line.

Argentina and Messi in World Cup showdown with Modric’s Croatia

DOHA: Argentina and Lionel Messi face Croatia on Tuesday in a World Cup semifinal that pits South American flair against the guile of Luka Modric and a remarkable fighting spirit. In the second semifinal on Wednesday, reigning champions France take on giant-killing Morocco, the first African team ever to reach the last four of a World Cup. But first all eyes will be on the cavernous Lusail Stadium, where Messi, now 35, will attempt to guide Argentina into the final for the second time in eight years against the beaten finalists in 2018. Messi, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown an extraordinary career by finally winning the World Cup and emulating another Argentinian legend, the late Diego Maradona. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was a pivotal figure in Friday’s stormy quarter-final win over the Netherlands, when a record 18 yellow cards were shown and players from both sides were involved in a melee as the referee fought to regain control. The match ended with Argentina players appearing to taunt their distraught Dutch opponents before sprinting away to celebrate after a penalty shoot-out win. Even the normally mild-mannered Messi was caught up in the bad blood, shouting abuse at Dutch players while he was being interviewed after the game. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni defended his players’ conduct in an eve-of-game news conference on Monday, insisting they had nothing to apologize for. “The game the other day was played in the right way by both teams. That is football,” said the 44-year-old Argentina coach. “I don’t buy this idea that we don’t know how to win. The game was played in the right way.”