Fifa World Cup 2022: Defending champs France to take on Morocco tonight
Fifa World Cup 2022, France vs Morocco, semi-final preview: The game will see an interesting clash between France's attack and Morocco's rock-solid defence
 "Fifa World Cup 2022: Defending champs France to take on Morocco tonight")
premium
Defending champions France will clash with Morocco in today's second semi-final of the Fifa World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. Morocco will be the first African country to ever play a semi-final at the Fifa World Cup.
Different strengths
In the 2022 Fifa World Cup, France scored 11 goals, among the highest in the tournament. It boasts of a young and effective attack with Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele.
On the other hand, Morocco has conceded only one goal till now, which was an own goal in their 2-1 win over Canada. So far, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and Croatia have failed to breach their defence.
Morocco mainly focuses on the counter-attack, with Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal sending crosses inside the box to Youssef En-Nesyri.
The match will be a clash of different styles of gameplay.
Injuries
Both teams have a high number of injured players. France's Paul Pogba and Karim Benzema are not available for the tournament. Centre-back Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot sat out of the training session on December 13 due to illness.
Morocco, on the other hand, has seen some injuries in high-intensity games against Spain and Portugal.
Unprecedented results expected
If France goes to the finals and lifts the trophy, it will become the only team to win the World Cup twice in a row.
If Morocco goes to the final, it will become the first African country to reach there.
Both teams are high on confidence. France has a deep lineup to depend upon with names like Camavinga and Muani. At the same time, Morocco has defeated two tournament favourites, Spain and Portugal, to reach the semi-finals.
For both teams, today's match will be crucial. The winner will meet Argentina in the final match on December 18 at the Lusail Stadium.
Semi-final Details
- Match- Fifa World Cup Semi-Final- 2
- Venue- Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar
- Teams- France and Morocco
- Date and Time: December 15, 12:30 am (IST)
Where to watch
- OTT- Jio Cinema, Vi App
- TV- Sports 18 and Sports 18 HD
One subscription. Two world-class reads.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%