FIFA World Cup: France beat Morocco 2-Nil to set up summit clash with Argentina on 18th December

Doha: In the FIFA World Cup, defending champions France stormed into the final as Theo Hernandez and super sub-Randal Kolo Muani's goals helped them beat the Morocco 2-0 in the second semi-final at the Al Bayt Stadium last night. With this win, France will become the first defending champions to reach successive finals since Brazil in 2002 and can now look forward to Sunday's showdown when they will bid to follow Brazil in 1962 and Italy in 1938 as the third team to retain the title. 

France will meet Lionel Messi's Argentina in final at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday. Argentina stormed into the final after beating Croatia 3-0 in the first semi-final Tuesday night. Now Croatia will face Morocco in the third-place match on Saturday at the Khalifa International Stadium, in Qatar at 8:30 pm Indian Time.

Defender Theo Hernández scored  France's quickest goal of the Qatar World Cup in the 5th minute of the game. when he netted the ball from inside the



box that gave them the early 1-0 lead. It was only the second goal Morocco has allowed in this World Cup, and the first was an own goal.  

Extending their lead in the second half, substitute Randal Kolo Muani scored the second goal for France as the defending champions ended Morocco’s dream run at the grandest stage. Atlas lions, on the other hand, suffered two injury blows with center-back Nayef Aguerd pulling out during the warm-up and captain Romain Saiss forced off in the 21st minute. They also came close to an equalizer on the stroke of halftime when Jawad El Yamiq’s bicycle kick was palmed away by the French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.  

Now France became the first defending champions to qualify for consecutive World Cup finals since Brazil did it in 1998. Kylian Mbappe-starred France will meet Lionel Messi-led Argentina in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Sunday.