France will play the World Cup final against Argentina, after defeating Morocco in a semifinal that they dominated from minute five and which closed at minute 79 with a great play by Kylian Mbappé, who moved, placed and dislodged a Moroccan team inside the area.
The Frenchmen controlled the game remarkably, even when they handed the ball over to Regragui's men.
Morocco had their best chances at the end of the first half, when they slightly turned the match pendulum in their favour.
One of his center backs was about to score a spectacular goal from the Chilean kick, but he crashed into the post.
The Africans no longer had such dominance.
The graph shows which selection created the most danger, minute by minute.
The Gauls gave the ball to their rival after scoring the first goal: possession in the first half went to the Moroccan side (56%), and the total for the match as well (61%).
France, however, conceded few chances and created more danger with their plays and counterattacks.
A deserved win (in expected goals)
The French felt comfortable managing the advantage gained in the opening minutes.
They finished off more and better than the rival: their shots were worth 2.1 expected goals —for their probability of ending in success—, compared to Morocco's 1.0 expected goals.
France shot three times from inside the six-yard box and another six times from quite close.
France
goals 2
Shots 14 (3 on goal)
2.1xG
expected goals
Morocco
goals 0
Shots 13 (3 on goal)
1.0xG
expected goals
France
goals 2
Shots 14 (3 on goal)
2.1xG
expected goals
Morocco
goals 0
Shots 13 (3 on goal)
1.0xG
expected goals
France
Morocco
goals 2
Shots 14 (3 on goal)
goals 0
Shots 13 (3 on goal)
2.1xG
1.0xG
expected goals
expected goals
France
Morocco
goals 2
Shots 14 (3 on goal)
goals 0
Shots 13 (3 on goal)
2.1xG
1.0xG
expected goals
expected goals
Morocco came close to scoring at the end of the first half, especially with a spectacular Chilean kick from El Yamiq.
It was the clearest occasion for the Africans, who with the minutes running against them opened up those defensive lines that had tightened so much in other games, such as the round of 16 match against Spain.
The battle in midfield
Aurélien Tchouaméni's touches are a good example of French order.
The Real Madrid midfielder became strong in midfield, but he also had more projection in attack than in previous matches.
In the first half he gave a pass to Mbappé, whose shot could have closed the game much earlier.
Later, he started the play that ended in France's second goal.
Tchouameni
Position
half of
Tchouameni
ounahi
Position
half of
ounahi
Tchouameni
Position
half of
Tchouameni
ounahi
Position
half of
ounahi
Tchouameni
ounahi
Position
half of
Tchouameni
Position
half of
ounahi
ounahi
Tchouameni
Position
half of
ounahi
Position
half of
Tchouameni
Among the Moroccans we have highlighted Azzedine Ounahi, who had a great presence in midfield, and who repeatedly projected himself in attack, sometimes close to the band and other times occupying the inside corridor.
France did not need to combine
On the French passing map there are hardly any connections between their midfield players and forwards - the most repeated thing was to move the ball between their centrals.
The team became very short, with the average position of all its players in a very narrow band, with the sole exception of Mbappé, incisive on the counterattack with his gallops on the left lime.
France
mbappe
10
9
eleven
7
13
8
4
5
22
24
1
France's defense played too far forward despite turning the ball over
Morocco
17
7
two
8
19
4
3
18
twenty
6
el yamiq
1
The Moroccan game went through Ounahi and Amrabat
France
mbappe
10
9
eleven
7
13
8
4
5
22
24
1
France's defense played too far forward despite turning the ball over
Morocco
17
7
two
8
19
4
3
18
twenty
6
el yamiq
1
The Moroccan game went through Ounahi and Amrabat
France
Morocco
mbappe
10
17
7
9
two
eleven
8
7
13
19
4
3
8
4
5
22
18
twenty
24
6
el yamiq
1
1
The Moroccan game went through Ounahi and Amrabat
France's defense played too far forward despite turning the ball over
France
Morocco
mbappe
10
17
7
9
two
eleven
8
7
13
19
4
3
8
4
5
22
18
twenty
24
6
el yamiq
France's defense played too far forward despite turning the ball over
The Moroccan game went through Ounahi and Amrabat
1
1
Morocco braided their game on the right flank, more combinative, with triangulations from Ounahi and their two stars, Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi.
The two occupied advanced positions, with the full-back doubling inside many times.
El mapa de pases marroquí evidencia la capacidad de los africanos para enfrentar a un enorme rival y jugar un buen partido, uno que durante muchos minutos les permitió soñar con alcanzar una final histórica.
Fuentes y glosario
Goles esperados. Los goles que debería haber marcado un jugador o un equipo con sus remates, sumando la probabilidad que tenía cada uno de acabar en gol. El cálculo de la estadística tiene en cuenta la posición del disparo, el tipo de remate o la posición del portero.
Momentum del partido. Qué equipo está creando más situaciones de peligro en cada minuto. Se calcula a partir de las posesiones de balón recientes de cada equipo y su probabilidad de acabar en gol. Controlar el balón tiene un valor diferente según la posición: no supone el mismo peligro retener la bola entre tus centrales que llegar al área pequeña del rival.
Data source: Opta.
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