France vs Morocco: 2022 World Cup, Semi-Final Match Preview, and Dream11 Predictions

France vs Morocco is next as France face their former colony Morocco in a World Cup semi-final with an extra edge on Wednesday evening.

Match Details:

• Location: Al Kohr, Qatar
• Stadium: Al Bayt Stadium
• Date: Wednesday 15 December
• Kick-off Time: 12:30 AM IST
• Watch: Sports 18/HD, Jio Cinema App

France vs Morocco: Match Preview:

Defending champions against underdog challenger, a true David vs. Goliath meeting as France, the 2018 title holders take on Morocco, the first African nation to ever reach the World Cup semifinals.

🔙📽️😏@KMbappe and @AchrafHakimi met up in May in Doha!

They will face each other in the semi-finals of the World Cup ❤️💙

🏆 #FromParisToQatar pic.twitter.com/YpxI9gYOzK

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) December 12, 2022

Les Bleus managed to squeak by a tough challenge from England thanks to Harry Kane's late missed penalty, but they'll have a very different challenge on their hands up next.

Morocco sport a patchwork squad, beset with injuries, but the Atlas Lions have banded together to sport exceptional and surprising depth. They are boosted by a quasi-home field advantage, as their fans have flocked to Qatar in droves to create a stunning atmosphere.

pic.twitter.com/9PQCGy3tw1

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) December 10, 2022

Will France move to the precipice of a World Cup double, or will Morocco graduate from history-maker to true title contender?

Team News:

France:

Deschamps only made one substitution during France's narrow triumph against England at the Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday. It's unlikely the World Cup-winning manager and player will make any changes from his starting XI which has escaped injury and suspension.

🙇🏻‍♂️ 𝗠𝗿 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱!@_OlivierGiroud_ has 𝟭𝟱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 for les Bleus, nine more than any other France player in the 21st century (six for Thierry Henry) 🤯#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/cGBIRF5Dpy

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) December 12, 2022

Morocco:

Morocco are walking wounded going into this historic semi-final. Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd both missed out on the quarter-final while Romain Saiss somehow managed to soldier through 50 minutes before he was stretchered off.

A combination of illness and a discomfort with his hip sidelined Mazraoui but the Bayern Munich fullback could recover by Wednesday night – although, Yahya Attiyat Allah shone as his replacement.

صور الفوز التاريخي لمنتخبنا الوطني أمام منتخب البرتغال 🤩

📸 Highlights of this amazing qualification#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #TeamMorocco #FIFAWorldCup @pumafootball pic.twitter.com/xdXZiqNFP8

— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) December 10, 2022

Aguerd is also gunning for a return from a groin problem. The West Ham centre-back reportedly wanted to feature against Portugal but wasn't deemed fit enough – a diagnosis which may change with another four days of rest under his belt.

Walid Cheddira will not feature after collecting a pair of yellow cards in stoppage time.

France vs Morocco: Head to Head:

There have been 11 meetings between the two nations. France have won seven of those games while Morocco have won just once.

There have been three draws between the two sides, including their most recent matchup which ended 2-2.

"𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴."

And another record broken – @AntoGriezmann now has the 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 in the history of les Bleus with 2️⃣8️⃣! #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/msW1SIMj3E

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) December 11, 2022

France are undefeated in their last 10 games against the Atlas Lions, a run dating back to 1966.

Morocco have the best defensive record in the World Cup so far, with just one goal conceded in their five games.

Predicted Line-ups:

France Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
Bench: Mandanda, Areola, Disasi, Pavard, Saliba, Konate, Guendouzi, Veretout, Camavinga, Y Fofana, Kolo Muani, Coman, Thuram.

Morocco Starting 11 (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, El Yamiq, Benoun, Attiyat Allah; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal.
Bench: Munir, Tagnaouti, Dari, Jabrane, Chair, El Khannouss, Sabiri, Abde, Aboukhlal, Hamdallah, Mazraoui, Aguerd.

FRA vs MOR: Dream11 Predictions:

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