In the end, it was a triumph of France’s savoir-faire, their ability to manage these type of occasions, to get the job done. Theo Hernandez scored early on and Didier Deschamps could reflect on a fine defensive performance, particularly from Ibrahima Konat?, which would yield a first clean sheet of this World Cup for his team.
When Kylian Mbapp? crackled to life inside the area late on, showing his twinkle toes and seeing a low shot deflect, there was the substitute, Randal Muani, to tap home. Antoine Griezmann was once again excellent and France remain on course to defend their title. The final against Argentina on Sunday promises to be an epic.
And yet the broad brushstroke details did not take in how Morocco made France sweat, how they played with their chests out and not a hint of any inferiority complex. The African team – the first from the continent to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup – had long since left that behind on their epic run past Belgium at the group phase, Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds.
Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions made a mockery of snooty European claims that they were overly defensive by playing on the front foot, probing and creating chances. It was an occasion to thrill their fans here and back at home. And when the men in red crumpled to the turf when it was all over, they did so having left everything out there.
The 200-1 shots at the start of the tournament had only ever won two ties previously at this level. They had created miracles but this would be a step too far, a knockout for the band of brothers that Regragui had likened to Rocky Balboa. As France celebrated, the applause for the beaten team rang out loudly.
The atmosphere was pulsating from the start. The shrill whistles from the Morocco fans were first heard precisely 90 minutes before kick-off when Deschamps and his assistants came out for wander. Hilariously, when the French element of the shouty pre-match crowd whip-up troupe started doing her thing, she was unceremoniously drowned out. There is a God. And, at that point, there were hardly any Morocco supporters inside the ground.
The noise when they were all in, the red shirts everywhere, was powerful. This was history, a pay-back for the passion and massive investment in Moroccan football by King Mohammed VI and the national federation. Everybody wanted to live it to the full.
What Morocco did not factor in was the concession of the early goal. Regragui had set up in a back five for the first time at the tournament and it was breached when Rapha?l Varane played a cute pass up the inside right for Griezmann, which Jawad El Yamiq tried to step up and intercept. He failed.
Griezmann crossed low for Mbapp? and he had two efforts blocked. After the second, the ball sat up at the far post for Hernandez and his side-on finish was a beauty. It was only the second goal that Morocco had conceded here – after the freak own goal against Canada – and the first time that they had been behind.
Nayaf Aguerd had been ruled out for Morocco after being named in the starting XI and a second centre-half, Roman Sa?ss, who had been a selection doubt, did not not last beyond the 21st minute. He limped off moments after misjudging a high ball and allowing Olivier Giroud a run on goal. Giroud lashed against the outside of the post. Noussair Mazraoui, who also carried an injury, would not reappear for the second-half.
It was possible to wonder whether the physical strain was catching up on Morocco and yet they poured even more energy into the game. Regragui rearranged to 4-1-4-1 without Saiss but, in both systems, Morocco held a high line and pressed forward. France were happy to sit in, to hunt for turnovers and transition quickly.
Morocco carried the physical fight, they enjoyed plenty of possession and their supporters saw enough to cheer them before half-time. Especially when El Yamiq launched into an overhead kick in stoppage time after Giroud had half-cleared a corner, sending the ball towards the bottom left. Hugo Lloris got across to tip it onto the post. Earlier the goalkeeper had sprung the other way to push away an Azzedine Ounahi curler.
France ought to have been 2-0 up on 36 minutes. Aur?lien Tchouameni found Mbapp? who could not finish, El Yamiq clearing, but only as far as Tchouameni, who sent a quick pass back in for Giroud, who was unmarked by penalty spot. He sent a first-time shot past the post – a bad miss.
Morocco did not want for adventure, particularly Achraf Hakimi, who was in marauding form up the right, linking to good effect with Hakim Ziyech, who was also dangerous. Hakimi’s battle with Mbapp?, his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, was a prominent sub-plot [500], although it was not just him against Mbapp?. Sofyan Amrabat made one heroic covering challenge on the flying France winger.
Morocco continued to believe as the second half wore on, continued to force the issue at a startling tempo. Some of their interchanges in the final third were extremely easy on the eye. The substitute, Yahia Attiyat Allah, could not connect with a shooting chance when well placed. He then ghosted in behind Jules Kounde, his cross hacked by Konat?. Attiyat Allah also nearly crossed for the substitute, Zakaria Aboukhlal.
It felt as though the equaliser could be coming. After a France replacement, Marcus Thuram, missed a header, Morocco sprang forward through another of their changes, Abderrazak Hamdallah. Was this the moment? No. He jinked but could not find the room to unload.
Over to Mbapp? to kill the dream. It was Muani who drove the move following a loose Morocco pass but Mbapp? who ignited it, his shot deflecting off the substitute, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, and breaking kindly. When Hamdallah had a last-gasp effort cleared off the line by Jules Kound?, Morocco were denied the consolation they deserved.
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