France beats Morocco, advances to the World Cup final to face Argentina on Sunday
AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — France and Kylian Mbappé are headed back to the World Cup final for a much-anticipated matchup with Lionel Messi after ending Morocco’s historic run at soccer’s biggest tournament.
France beat Africa’s first ever semifinalist 2-0 Wednesday, with Mbappé playing a part in goals by Theo Hernandez in the fifth minute and then substitute Randal Kolo Muani in the 79th.
France will head into Sunday’s title match against Argentina looking to become the first team to retain the World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. Mbappé has the chance to cement his status as soccer’s new superstar when he comes up against the 35-year-old Messi, who has dominated the game with Cristiano Ronaldo for the past 15 years.
There will be no team from the Arab world in the final of the first World Cup in the Middle East, a prospect that seemed nigh impossible before the tournament.
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Christophe Ena, Associated Press
France's Theo Hernandez celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match against Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Wednesday. France won 2-0 to advance to the championship match.
Christophe Ena, Associated PressFrance's Theo Hernandez celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match against Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Wednesday. France won 2-0 to advance to the championship match.
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Christophe Ena - staff, AP
Morocco's Jawad El Yamiq, center, attempts a shot at goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Christophe Ena - staff, APMorocco's Jawad El Yamiq, center, attempts a shot at goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou cuts off and attack of France's Kylian Mbappe during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, APMorocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou cuts off and attack of France's Kylian Mbappe during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Petr David Josek - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Petr David Josek - staff, APFrance's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Christophe Ena - staff, AP
France's Theo Hernandez, right, celebrates with Kylian Mbappe after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Christophe Ena - staff, APFrance's Theo Hernandez, right, celebrates with Kylian Mbappe after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Geert Vanden Wijngaert - stringer, AP
A fan wearing a Morocco supporters scarf walks by a line of police in Brussels, after France won the World Cup semi-final football match between Morocco and France on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
Geert Vanden Wijngaert - stringer, APA fan wearing a Morocco supporters scarf walks by a line of police in Brussels, after France won the World Cup semi-final football match between Morocco and France on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
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Manu Fernandez - staff, AP
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi lies on the field at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final.
Manu Fernandez - staff, APMorocco's Achraf Hakimi lies on the field at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final.
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Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
France's Theo Hernandez, right, and Morocco's Hakim Ziyech vie for the ball during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, APFrance's Theo Hernandez, right, and Morocco's Hakim Ziyech vie for the ball during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Christophe Ena - staff, AP
Morocco's Bilal El Khannous reacts at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0.
Christophe Ena - staff, APMorocco's Bilal El Khannous reacts at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0.
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Manu Fernandez - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe helps Morocco's Achraf Hakimi up at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final.
Manu Fernandez - staff, APFrance's Kylian Mbappe helps Morocco's Achraf Hakimi up at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final.
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Geert Vanden Wijngaert - stringer, AP
Fans react in Brussels after France won the World Cup semi-final football match between Morocco and France on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
Geert Vanden Wijngaert - stringer, APFans react in Brussels after France won the World Cup semi-final football match between Morocco and France on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
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Manu Fernandez - staff, AP
France's Jules Kounde, left, and France's Aurelien Tchouameni celebrate after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won the match 2-0.
Manu Fernandez - staff, APFrance's Jules Kounde, left, and France's Aurelien Tchouameni celebrate after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won the match 2-0.
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Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, center, and teammates react during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, APMorocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, center, and teammates react during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Petr David Josek - staff, AP
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi is consoled by teammate Romain Saiss and France's Antoine Griezmann following the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Petr David Josek - staff, APMorocco's Achraf Hakimi is consoled by teammate Romain Saiss and France's Antoine Griezmann following the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Martin Meissner - staff, AP
France's Theo Hernandez, center, celebrates with team mates after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Martin Meissner - staff, APFrance's Theo Hernandez, center, celebrates with team mates after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Manu Fernandez - staff, AP
France's players celebrate at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final.
Manu Fernandez - staff, APFrance's players celebrate at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final.
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Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
France's Kylian Mbappe greets Morocco's Achraf Hakimi after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, APFrance's Kylian Mbappe greets Morocco's Achraf Hakimi after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0.
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Christophe Ena - staff, AP
France's Antoine Griezmann, center, and Raphael Varane, right, pick up Morocco's Zakaria Aboukhlal at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0.
Christophe Ena - staff, APFrance's Antoine Griezmann, center, and Raphael Varane, right, pick up Morocco's Zakaria Aboukhlal at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0.
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Emilio Morenatti - staff, AP
Nabati Majdoulin watches the end of the World Cup semifinal match between Morocco and France played in Doha, in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the World Cup final against Argentina.
Emilio Morenatti - staff, APNabati Majdoulin watches the end of the World Cup semifinal match between Morocco and France played in Doha, in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the World Cup final against Argentina.
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Alvaro Barrientos - stringer, AP
Morocco fans react in Cintruenigo, Spain, during the World Cup semifinal match between Morocco and France played in Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Alvaro Barrientos - stringer, APMorocco fans react in Cintruenigo, Spain, during the World Cup semifinal match between Morocco and France played in Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Martin Meissner - staff, AP
France's Theo Hernandez, center, celebrates with team mates after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Martin Meissner - staff, APFrance's Theo Hernandez, center, celebrates with team mates after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Petr David Josek - staff, AP
France's Aurelien Tchouameni, right, and teammate Marcus Thuram celebrate following the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Petr David Josek - staff, APFrance's Aurelien Tchouameni, right, and teammate Marcus Thuram celebrate following the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Manu Fernandez - staff, AP
France's Marcus Thuram celebrates at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final.
Manu Fernandez - staff, APFrance's Marcus Thuram celebrates at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. France won 2-0 and will play Argentina in Sunday's final.
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Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Morocco's Abde Ezzalzouli, second left, is challenged by France's Jules Kounde, right, during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, APMorocco's Abde Ezzalzouli, second left, is challenged by France's Jules Kounde, right, during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
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Hassan Ammar - staff, AP
France's Randal Kolo Muani scores during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
Hassan Ammar - staff, APFrance's Randal Kolo Muani scores during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.
