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France's Olivier Giroud (centre)
Photo: Manu Fernandez/AP
The finalists at the World Cup in Qatar have been determined. After Argentina against Croatia, France also beat Morocco in the semifinals. The international media write:
Morocco:
»Le Matin«:
»After an unbelievable campaign in which they fought their way up to the top quartet in the World Cup, the Moroccan national team finally failed to reach the final on Wednesday at the Al Bayt stadium, losing to France.
In the end, the experience of the reigning world champion and his coach prevailed.
Following the footsteps of another team from Group F (Croatia), the Moroccan national team could not keep up with France.«
»L'Opinion«:
»The experience of the Tricolore and the naivety of the Moroccans were decisive.
The match ended in a defeat that the Atlas Lions did not deserve as their performance was more than satisfactory with a run that did credit not only to the Moroccans but also to all of Africa and the Arab-Muslim world.”
»Yabiladi«:
»After a historic qualification for the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, Morocco surrendered to France on Wednesday.
The Atlas Lions meet Croatia again in the third-place play-off.
After an extraordinary encounter, the luck of the national team did not smile.«
France:
»RMC Sport«:
»In the semi-finals of the World Cup, France, with their ultra-solid defense against Morocco, found the same values that brought them luck in 2018.«
»Le Monde«:
»Four years after their title in Russia, the Bleus meet Argentina's Lionel Messis on Sunday in a bid to secure their third accession to the throne in World Cup history.
Les Bleus beat Morocco in a long drawn semi-final.«
»L'Équipe«:
»Didier Deschamps' Les Bleus are now on their way to conquering a third crown by defending their title in a dream final against the Argentina of a Messi on a mission.
With an impressive skill, able to suffer without bowing, impenetrable against the pressure of an audience that sided with the enemy, the Tricolore collective managed to put an end to the crazy epic of Morocco.«
Argentina:
»Clarín«:
»France is a strange team.
They always seem smaller than they really are or what the numbers or some people say they are.
They opened the game with a goal after five minutes and then gave the ball to Morocco, relying on their defensive security to the limit.
Apart from a few absences and new names, France appear to be essentially the same side as they were four years ago.
A practical team, sober to the point of excess, who don't shine, but who don't forgive either."
»La Nación«:
»Rarely, very rarely, can a team scare.
Here, at Al Bait Stadium, the cuckoo of the Qatar 2022 World Cup froze the hot hearts of thousands of Moroccans.
They whistled at them, they yelled at them, they booed them, but nothing scares the French team.”
ara/dpa
