Reigning World Cup champs France square off with surprise package Morocco in a mouthwatering World Cup semifinal in Qatar.
[they’ve beaten Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds](https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/morocco-vs-portugal-video-highlights-recap-reaction/), showcasing incredible grit, energy and quality as they are the total team unit. As for Morocco, their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has been exceptional, so too has captain Romain Saiss (who is nursing a hamstring injury) while Achraf Hakimi, Sofiane Boufal and Hakim Ziyech give them real quality in wide areas. The only issue is that France has yet to keep a clean sheet and they do look vulnerable on the counter. They have made history as the first-ever African side to reach the final four and Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann are all stepping up at different moments and the French are gathering momentum. [squeaked past England in the quarterfinals](https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2022/12/11/england-vs-france-recap-final-score-video-highlights-harry-kane-penalty-video-goals/), as Les Bleus have looked shaky defensively but have so much quality in attack.
France and Morocco meet in the second semifinal of the 2022 World Cup on Dec. 14. Here's what you need to know about the match.
Winning the 2018 World Cup made him the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager. He has taken Morocco further than anyone imagined at this World Cup and thinks the team can still give more. It has averaged 32% possession in its five World Cup matches, the second-lowest of any team. This strategy has worked due to its near-impenetrable defense and the ability to counter-attack at pace with the dribbling skills of wingers Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal. It was effective against England and a similar approach worked at the World Cup in Russia four years ago. It showed this against England, which had 58% possession and twice as many shots as the World Cup holder. Changing the players has not changed the script – Morocco’s defense is very hard to break. The defense has also had to adapt. For a confidence boost, Hakimi should look no further than Mbappé, who described the Moroccan as the “best RB (right-back) in the world” in a January [tweet](https://twitter.com/KMbappe/status/1486074687838949379). Reigning champion France is aiming to become the first country to win back-to-back men’s World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. It is the outsider for this match but remains unbeaten, having secured against-the-odds wins over Spain and Portugal in the knockout stage. [keeping Mbappé quiet in the quarterfinal](https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertkidd/2022/12/09/world-cup-2022-quarter-final-stop-kylian-mbapp-and-england-has-hope-against-france/), with France relying on goals from Aurélien Tchouaméni and Olivier Giroud for the 2-1 victory.
Ahead of their World Cup semi-final clash, Middle East Eye takes a look at French-Moroccan relations from past to present.
[Western Sahara](https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/western-sahara). In fact, Morocco is the leading destination for French investment in Africa. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this Amazigh tribesemen later laid siege to the city, and were defeated in a crackdown that caused a further 600 to be killed. In the early 1930s they protested against a decree issued by the sultan which would subject Amazigh communities to customary, rather than Islamic, law. The Battle of El Herri was a notable early victory for the Zaians, led by Mouha ou Hammou Zayani, with over 600 French-aligned troops killed. It was only after a decisive defeat to Frankish forces at the Battle of Tours in 732 that the Muslims were pushed back. [Read More »](/morocco-portugal-world-cup-turbulent-history-conquest-kings) The latter’s huge public debt was also seen as a Kaiser Wilhelm II arrived in Tangier and declared his support for an independent Morocco. They raided eastern France too, invading Lyon and Autun. [Morocco](https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/morocco)'s fairytale run to the semi-finals of the [World Cup](https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/qatar-world-cup-2022) has surprised and electrified audiences from Rabat to Reykjavik.
SportsLine's soccer model simulated France vs. Morocco and locked in its 2022 FIFA World Cup picks and predictions for Wednesday's semifinal.
- France vs. France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup? And which side has all the value? Hakimi is the World Cup leader with 17 tackles, and Mazraoui is tied for fourth with 13. The 31-year-old has 29 clean sheets in 48 career starts for Morocco and has a 75.6 save percentage in six seasons in Spain's La Liga, the past four with Sevilla. Midfielder Antoine Griezmann also has been a critical piece as a box-to-box player, and he is third all-time in for France with 42 goals and has 26 assists. [2022 World Cup picks](https://www.sportsline.com/fifa-wc/picks/) and predictions. France are the -185 favorites (risk $185 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in the latest France vs. Les Bleus eked out a 2-1 victory against France on Saturday to make the semifinal for the third time in their past six World Cup appearances. The model was accurate on 56% of all picks during the Champions League group stage and returned more than $1,000 to $100 bettors on its A+ picks. A draw is priced at +295 and the over/under for total goals is set at 2.5. France remain on track to defend their title, but upstart Morocco have other plans as the teams get set to meet in a 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal on Wednesday.
While France is heavily favored to win, the Moroccan team has managed to defy the odds.
1953: In an attempt to consolidate power, the French exile Sultan Mohammed V to Madagascar. This rhetoric risks further inflaming divisions within European societies, while also depriving national soccer teams like Spain, France, (or Italy, which didn’t qualify for this year’s World Cup) of talented players who grew up in those countries, but who, like Hakimi explained, don’t feel at home there. Half of Morocco’s players in the 2022 World Cup were He compared the formation of his squad to In the last World Cup, 17 of Morocco’s 23 players were born abroad. The match won’t just be closely watched in Morocco, but also anywhere in the world, particularly Europe, where people of Moroccan descent see an opportunity to proudly celebrate their roots—as well as by anyone who loves an underdog.
Morocco vs. France prediction, pick, and odds for the semifinals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup on Wednesday.
As strong as France has looked with the ball, they have had to navigate some wobbly defense throughout this tournament. And it’s not like they’re just parking the bus, either. The Atlas Lions are definitely relying on defensive prowess rather than offensive flair to get results, but that strategy is working and there’s no shame in putting defense first. Morocco topped Group F ahead of Belgium and Croatia, and then they defeated Spain and Portugal in their first two knockout matches. AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV only. New customers only.
If Morocco can shackle France's Kylian Mbappe, it will be half the battle won. Advertisement. AFTER THE sweaty victory against England, the French ...
A big part of it would be to contain Mbappe, make him settle for bad numbers (by his standards) as he had against England and hope he heaves the ball into the distance rather than to the back of the net. Their prime focus was not on Kovacic and Modric, but Brozovic, to prevent him from enjoying too many touches in the midfield, to deny him the opportunity to carry the ball upfield. The first line of defence started with Youssef En-Nesyri, behind him were Azzedine Ounahi and Selim Amallah, tightly holding onto Modric and Kovacic. Almost all of the front five could play-make as well as score; even the defensive midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni could; so could Theo Hernandez, and Rafael Varane. The latter has clocked 35 kmph, the former 35.3 kmph, and together form the fastest pair in this World Cup. Then, as they strolled back to the tunnel, a football bounced onto the turf and fell in the path of Kylian Mbappe. They constricted the hat-trick hero Goncalo Ramos, the most direct of goal-scoring threats, like a python would its prey. There are multiple layers that make the game intriguing and fascinating. Among the four survivors, France has scored the most number of goals (11). Even the usually deadpan-faced Deschamps broke into peals of laughter. The numbers were put forth to manager Didier Deschamps. But so wayward was the strike that it blew somewhere into the distant stands.
France is a betting favorite against Morocco on Wednesday in the 2022 World Cup, with a tie listed at +240. Sports betting sites also have props.
Africa's first World Cup semifinalist are playing defending champion France and striker Kylian Mbappe, the leader of a new wave of football superstars coming ...
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 1 and 7, and will be free-to-air on Prime. “It’s going to make a lot of noise, a raucous atmosphere. They’re people who come from anywhere in the world to support their country,” Regragui said. “European countries are used to winning the World Cup and we have played top sides, we have not had an easy run. “We have the best fans in the world along with Argentines and Brazilians. “I was asked if we can win the World Cup and I said, ‘Why not?
SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green locked in his 2022 World Cup picks and predictions for Morocco vs. France in Wednesday's semifinal match.
- France vs. Green has broken down this semifinal from every angle. Les Bleus have not kept a single clean sheet at the tournament, and the defense looked very shaky in the quarterfinal against England. They also have won more tackles (104 to 98) and interceptions (51 to 49) and have conceded fewer shots outside the box (16 to 20). Filling in for the injured N'Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, the 22-year-old Tchouameni has played a team-high 411 minutes and has completed a tournament-high 93.2% of his passes. Les Bleus have the offensive firepower to unlock the Moroccan defense. France are the -180 favorite (risk $180 to win $100) in the latest France vs. [You can head to SportsLine now to see Green's picks](https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/2022-world-cup-france-vs-morocco-odds-picks-predictions-best-bets-for-wednesdays-semifinal-from-proven-soccer-expert/#ttag=12122022_agg_cbssports_picks_soccer_worldcup_martingreen_FranceMorocco). [2022 World Cup picks](https://www.sportsline.com/fifa-wc/picks/) and predictions. After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Reigning World Cup champion France can return to the World Cup final for the second straight tournament when Les Bleus square off against Morocco in a semifinal at the 2022 World Cup on Wednesday. Before you lock in your Morocco vs.
Morocco plays France in the semi-finals of the Fifa World Cup today. What you may not know is that the two countries share a complex relationship; ...
In this way, “brain drain” is arguably one of the most pernicious outcomes of colonialism and a foremost neocolonial process. In doing so, it has attained a symbolic victory over the neocolonial process of “brain drain”. Yet, behind the heartwarming story of Guinean Paul Pogba scoring for France in the World Cup final, or Malian N’golo Kante running the French midfield, hides the story of how African nations failed to gain from the talents of their most talented players. The fact that all these players are playing for Morocco, instead of the countries they/their parents migrated to, is in itself a victory. With French education also came ideas of liberty and equality, both of which were missing in the seemingly peaceful and picturesque French colony. Conditions created under colonial rule as well as the world capitalist economy that continues to divide the world into a Global North and South on erstwhile colonial lines, are what drive migration across many ex-colonies. However, the contours of Morocco’s relationship with France in many ways reproduces old colonial hierarchies. Today, an estimated five million Moroccans live abroad, with the majority of the diaspora being located in Europe, especially in France. However, France did not touch the old cities of Morocco which were spiritual and cultural nerve centres for the population. The Atlas mountains run through its length, giving the Moroccan football team its moniker of “Atlas Lions.” However, today, the West’s (and perhaps the rest of the world’s) imagination of Morocco is intimately tied to its romantic depiction in the ageless classic “Casablanca”, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Between 1912 and 1956, most of modern day Morocco was [a French colony](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/france-vs-morocco-colonial-history-makes-it-more-than-a-football-match-8323124/).