FRANCE BEATS MOROCCO 2-0; TO MEET ARGENTINA IN FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL

Theo Hernandez’s goal in the fifth minute and Randal Kolo Muani’s close-range goal 44 seconds after entering the game gave France a 2-0 semifinal victory over Morocco on Wednesday at the Al Bayt Stadium.

The outcome sets up the tournament’s championship game between France and Argentina at the Lusail Stadium on December 18.

After dominating the first minutes of the game, France scored first. Antoine Griezmann attempted to cut back pass to Kylian Mbappe, but Mbappe timed his attempts poorly.

Hernandez was in line to score after the second shot deflected into his direction, and from close range, he outshot Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

When Morocco’s captain Romain Saiss was forced to be removed in the 20th minute due to injury, the team’s problems were made worse. Saiss had to be carried off the field against Portugal in the quarterfinal, but he still managed to get into the starting lineup for the final four game.

Morocco made numerous offensive attempts, but their lack of poise in the last third always left the Africans short.

When another of Mbappe’s deflected shots fell kindly for Kolo Muani, who touched the ball into the net, the defending champion clinched the victory.

Morocco will face Croatia on Saturday in the third-place playoff.