(From left) France’s players Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane and Randal Kolo Muani during a training session at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, yesterday. AFP
Reigning champions France are confident experience will help them against high-flying Morocco in the second semi-final of the World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium tomorrow.
Morocco have made history by becoming the first nation from Africa and the Arab world to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup after pulling off shock victories against Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages. They also topped their group following an unbeaten run.
While Morocco look to continue their historic run in Qatar, France, who defeated England 2-1 in the quarter-finals after a tough battle, are aiming to become the first side to win back-to-back titles since Brazil successfully defended their World Cup crown 60 years ago.
France defender Raphael Varane said the Les Bleus will not underestimate the Atlas Lions but he was hopeful of stopping the North Africans’ dream run in the tournament.
“We have enough experience in the team to not fall into that trap,” Varane told reporters yesterday.
“We know Morocco are not here by chance. It is up to us experienced players to make sure everyone is prepared for another battle,” the 29-year-old, who was part of the squad that won the world title in Russia in 2018, said.
Varane said France’s target is to reach the second successive World Cup final.
“It is not easy to get to a World Cup semi-final so we are very pleased, but the only real objective is to win it,” he said. “That was always the aim.”
Speaking about the hard-fought 2-1 victory against England that saw the Three Lions dominating in long spells, Varane said it was a big test for France.
“We had to fight to win the match. The level of the competition is rising, with more and more intensity, it goes faster, tactically,” he said.
France’s Jules Kounde, meanwhile, said semi-final against an inform Morocco will be difficult.
“Morocco are very compact, with lines that are close together, and they leave little time for the player on the ball to organise himself,” he told reporters.
“They also run really fast, so we’ll need to play with few touches, move the ball around quickly and try to unbalance them by moving from one side to the other.
“It is remarkable to have only conceded one goal at this stage of the competition, all the more so given the teams they have faced,” said Kounde, referring to an own goal that Morocco conceded against Canada during their 2-1 win in a Group F match. (Inputs from AFP)
