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Trollheart · 12-14-2022, 07:20 PM

Day 26

And so into the second semi-final we went, wondering who was going to face the might of Messi and Argentina on Sunday? Would it be the current holders of the title, or the new kids on the block, trying to - and mostly succeeding in - making a name for themselves? You’d have bet your money on France, but then, you would have done that too when they sent mighty Portugal home last week, so who knew how this could go? I think everyone, apart from the French, was rooting for the underdog. Could they shock the world right at the death?

France v Morocco (Result: 2-0; France go to the final)

France took the lead on 4 minutes after Mbappe had missed, and Morocco had a game on their hands. In the 10th they came close themselves but the keeper was equal to it, and another shot on 16 but this one went wide. Plenty of time of course for Morocco to equalise, though again France came close just after Morocco had, right at the keeper, and another Morocco attack in 30 minutes but offside and wide. France trying to push their advantage as the time hit 39 minutes and they got a corner, but past the post harmlessly. Morocco were certainly proving hard to break down and after their early goal France really did not look likely to add to it, the final third letting them down each time. Heading into the end of the half then and it was Morocco’s turn for a corner, almost shot it in but the acrobatic kick hit the post and the follow up was well wide.

Morocco providing all the pressure as they forced another corner in extra time, this one caught by the keeper on the second attempt. Back down the French half and the Moroccans were relentless; France definitely knew they were in a match here. No walkover for them. A free in the very last minute of extra time was punched away but resulted in another, surely the final kick of the half, and so it was. Good attack by the French in the first few minutes of the second half, Mbappe almost in but the keeper took the ball before he could pull the trigger. The speed of the man is phenomenal. Nobody can keep pace with him. Great chance for Morocco in the 65th but again too close to the keeper, while down the Moroccan half a free was given against them for a pretty blatant and silly push on one of the French players, frustration perhaps beginning to show?

Still only a goal in it, so Morocco must have retained hope. One equaliser could change everything and put them back in contention. Of course, by the same logic, one more for France would surely see a place in the final slip away from the first African team to make it this far. Balanced on a knife edge, and it didn’t help Morocco’s cause that they kept giving away silly free kicks. Another one on 70 minutes came close, but the game remained at 1-0 and Morocco were in no way giving up. Back down the French half they went, and again gave away possession as they had another free kick given against them. A lack of discipline? Possibly. A lack of experience? You would imagine so. The occasion too big? You would say no, but they were certainly getting jumpy.

Then the substitute scored in the 79th minute, looked like his first touch, Morocco guilty of losing possession cheaply, and now surely the end was in sight for them. 2-0 to France, hardly likely to be any way back for Morocco now with only ten minutes plus extra time to go. A free for Morocco in the 84th minute could have helped but was headed away and as they tried desperately to get it back up the French half the defence stood firm, shutting the door. Shot on target in the last minute of normal time, but the keeper saved it and offside anyway. Seconds ticking away now, the outcome was in no doubt. Morocco had fought hard, but the experience of France told, and these debutantes on the World Cup semi-finals stage just couldn’t cut it, but there must be a huge amount of praise given to them for having got this far and been the first Africans to do so.

Argentina v France

while before that we have the third place play-off on Saturday between

Croatia v Morocco

12-14-2022, 07:20 PM	#57 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Day 26 And so into the second semi-final we went, wondering who was going to face the might of Messi and Argentina on Sunday? Would it be the current holders of the title, or the new kids on the block, trying to - and mostly succeeding in - making a name for themselves? You’d have bet your money on France, but then, you would have done that too when they sent mighty Portugal home last week, so who knew how this could go? I think everyone, apart from the French, was rooting for the underdog. Could they shock the world right at the death? France v Morocco (Result: 2-0; France go to the final) France took the lead on 4 minutes after Mbappe had missed, and Morocco had a game on their hands. In the 10th they came close themselves but the keeper was equal to it, and another shot on 16 but this one went wide. Plenty of time of course for Morocco to equalise, though again France came close just after Morocco had, right at the keeper, and another Morocco attack in 30 minutes but offside and wide. France trying to push their advantage as the time hit 39 minutes and they got a corner, but past the post harmlessly. Morocco were certainly proving hard to break down and after their early goal France really did not look likely to add to it, the final third letting them down each time. Heading into the end of the half then and it was Morocco’s turn for a corner, almost shot it in but the acrobatic kick hit the post and the follow up was well wide. Morocco providing all the pressure as they forced another corner in extra time, this one caught by the keeper on the second attempt. Back down the French half and the Moroccans were relentless; France definitely knew they were in a match here. No walkover for them. A free in the very last minute of extra time was punched away but resulted in another, surely the final kick of the half, and so it was. Good attack by the French in the first few minutes of the second half, Mbappe almost in but the keeper took the ball before he could pull the trigger. The speed of the man is phenomenal. Nobody can keep pace with him. Great chance for Morocco in the 65th but again too close to the keeper, while down the Moroccan half a free was given against them for a pretty blatant and silly push on one of the French players, frustration perhaps beginning to show? Still only a goal in it, so Morocco must have retained hope. One equaliser could change everything and put them back in contention. Of course, by the same logic, one more for France would surely see a place in the final slip away from the first African team to make it this far. Balanced on a knife edge, and it didn’t help Morocco’s cause that they kept giving away silly free kicks. Another one on 70 minutes came close, but the game remained at 1-0 and Morocco were in no way giving up. Back down the French half they went, and again gave away possession as they had another free kick given against them. A lack of discipline? Possibly. A lack of experience? You would imagine so. The occasion too big? You would say no, but they were certainly getting jumpy. Then the substitute scored in the 79th minute, looked like his first touch, Morocco guilty of losing possession cheaply, and now surely the end was in sight for them. 2-0 to France, hardly likely to be any way back for Morocco now with only ten minutes plus extra time to go. A free for Morocco in the 84th minute could have helped but was headed away and as they tried desperately to get it back up the French half the defence stood firm, shutting the door. Shot on target in the last minute of normal time, but the keeper saved it and offside anyway. Seconds ticking away now, the outcome was in no doubt. Morocco had fought hard, but the experience of France told, and these debutantes on the World Cup semi-finals stage just couldn’t cut it, but there must be a huge amount of praise given to them for having got this far and been the first Africans to do so. Argentina v France while before that we have the third place play-off on Saturday between Croatia v Morocco __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018