PSG stars Messi and Mbappe face off in the battle for the top prize
France’s Randal Kolo Muani, first, scores his team’s second goal past Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou during the World Cup semi-final at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. (AFP photo)
AL KHOR: France will face Argentina and Kylian Mbappe will face Lionel Messi in a heavyweight World Cup final after the French beat underdogs Morocco 2-0 on Wednesday.
Holders France stayed on course to become the first team in 60 years to successfully defend the trophy thanks to goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Morocco, the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final, battled as they have throughout the tournament and were cheered on by a predominantly red and green-clad crowd.
But Azzedine Ounahi’s last-minute shot that Jules Kounde deflected wide was arguably their best chance.
France reached the final for the fourth time in seven editions and if they triumph at the Lusail stadium on Sunday they will be the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy.
They were congratulated in the dressing room by French President Emmanuel Macron, who had flown to Qatar on Wednesday to watch the game.
Delighted France coach Didier Deschamps said: “There is emotion and pride.
“It is clear that today was another important step and now there will be another one.
“We’ve been together for a month now. It’s never easy, but here it is: it’s been a joy so far and my players have been rewarded.”
The final will inevitably be a battle between Messi and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappe.
Despite not scoring himself, Mbappé had a hand in both of France’s goals on Wednesday, creating the second with a dribble and a shot that deflected into the path of unmarked substitute Kolo Muani to score with ease.
Argentina, however, will examine moments of French defensive fragility that Messi and Julián Álvarez, who scored twice in Tuesday’s semi-final win over Croatia, will enjoy exploiting.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui’s plans for the biggest game in his country’s history have been hit by injuries.
He had hoped to welcome back centre-back Nayef Aguerd but he withdrew in the last minute and then captain Romain Saiss had to leave the field after just 21 minutes. At the time, Morocco was behind.
Defying the whistles that greeted every French possession, Hernández scored with an acrobatic volley at the back post after Mbappé’s shot was deflected wide.
It was only the second goal that Morocco had conceded in this World Cup.
For a moment it looked like the floodgates might open, but the Atlas Lions dug in and almost equalized when Jawad El Yamiq’s shot was tipped onto the post by Lloris.
But the second half went for France and when Kolo Muani came on for Ousmane Dembele he scored with the first touch.
“I can’t wrap my head around it, it’s crazy, we’re dreaming,” said 24-year-old Kolo Muani.
“The final is not just played, it has to be won.”
Messi, playing in his fifth World Cup, has been a man on a mission in Qatar, desperate to cap off his career by leading Argentina to their first world crown since Diego Maradona inspired the South Americans to the title in 1986 .
On Tuesday, Messi produced flashes of genius to help Argentina to an emphatic 3-0 victory over Croatia in the semi-finals.
Messi, 35, later confirmed that he expects Sunday’s final to be his last World Cup appearance.
“To be able to achieve this, to be able to end my journey to the World Cup by playing my last match in a final, is something very exciting,” said the Argentine captain.