Football

France vs Morocco Predicted lineups: Has Morocco’s captain recovered in time?

France vs Morocco Predicted lineups: Has Morocco’s captain recovered in time?

France take on Morocco tonight for the right to play Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday afternoon. The match is a true David vs Goliath event, with the current World Champions facing off against a side that was priced at 250/1 to win it before a ball had been kicked. 

France will go into the game full of confidence after coming through a tough test in the quarter-finals against Gareth Southgate’s England. The outcome may well have been different had Harry Kane converted his second penalty of the game late on in the second half.

Morocco will also be feeling confident after shutting out another top European team for 90 minutes. After overcoming Spain on penalties after a 0-0 draw, they managed to defeat Portugal in normal time thanks to a header from Youssef En-Nesyri just before halftime. The victory means that in the five World Cup games they’ve played this year they have only conceded one goal – an own goal in their group stage game against Canada.

Team news

France

While Didier Deschamps has been without ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema for the entirety of the tournament and Lucas Hernandez since the 12th minute of the first game, he would have been hoping that the rest of his squad remained fit ahead of this semi-final. Unfortunately for him, a couple of members of the squad have been struck down by illness in recent days. 

Juventus midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, and Bayern Munich defender, Dayot Upemacano, are both suffering with an illness and are doubts to the start the match. Both players have played 90 minutes in every meaningful France game of the tournament so far with them being rested for the dead rubber against Tunisia. 

If neither player can make it, then Rabiot is likely to be replaced in the starting eleven by Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana while Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate will come in for Upemacano. Aside from those two doubts, the rest of the French team is expected to remain unchanged from the England game.

After being shut out against England, Kylian Mbappe’s grasp on the golden boot is less secure and will be hoping to make of an impact on this one. 

mbappe

Morocco

Morocco have injury concerns of their own, after captain Romain Saiss was stretchered off with a hamstring injury just before the hour walk. Fellow defender, Nayef Aguerd, missed the game altogether with his own hamstring injury, as did full-back Noussair Mazraoui who was nursing a hip injury. 

The depleted defence is a major concern for Morocco boss, Walid Regragui, who has built his team around a solid defensive foundation. While Mazraoui is expected to be fit enough to play, Saiss and Aguerd remain serious doubts. 

If Morocco have a less reliable defence then more pressure will be placed on the likes of Ziyech, Hakimi and Boufal to produce the goods at the other end of the pitch. Regragui is also without striker, Walid Cheddira, who was sent off towards the end of their quarter-final. 

Predicted lineups

France

Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Konate, T. Hernandez, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud

Morocco

Bono, Hakimi, El Yamiq, Aguerd, Mazraoui, Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah, Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal


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