Same story, but new chapter written

Familiar faces will be on display in the World Cup final on Monday (AEDT) at Lusail Stadium, those of France and Argentina, who have contested eight finals between them.

France forward Kylian Mbappe attempts to get the ball under control. Picture:AFP.

“Round up the usual suspects,” as the police captain says in the film Casablanca. Familiar faces will be on display in the World Cup final on Sunday at Lusail Stadium, those of France and Argentina, who have contested eight finals between them. But as the locals say in the city Casablanca, Morocco’s players and supporters did their country and continent proud. They did the World Cup proud.

Morocco pushed France all the way in this compelling semi-final at Al Bayt Stadium, and but for Hugo Lloris in the world champions’ goal and the all-round excellence of Antoine Griezmann, France may have been taken to extra time. At times in the second half they were swamped as Hakim Ziyech led the red-shirted charge. Ziyech has been as eye-catching in Qatar as he is anonymous at Chelsea. Some players just need a bit of love.

The run of Ziyech, Sofiane Boufal, Sofyan Amrabat, Achraf Hakimi and Azz-Eddine Ounahi (the 22-year-old who surely will not stay much longer at Angers) to the last four, the first African side to do so, and their constant running at France will be an inspiration to other African countries. It looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

At times, it felt that they knew the whole of Africa, not simply the tens of thousands of Moroccans here, were willing them on. Morocco kept losing players to injury, but kept coming at France. They kept attacking, risking punishment on the counter, but their head coach Walid Regragui kept urging them forward, even keeping two players up at France corners. It was bold, breathless, bonkers at times, committed all of the time, and would have broken a lesser team than France. Griezmann embodied their intelligence and resilience.

The final will be billed as Lionel Messi versus Kylian Mbappe, but it could also come down to Leandro Paredes versus Griezmann, and how close the Argentina midfielder can get to the conductor of the French orchestra, the player of the tournament so far. Griezmann was everywhere here, clearing, intercepting and creating.

He played a key role in France’s opening goal that came early. The ears were still ringing from the Moroccan fans’ deafening singing of their national anthem when the world champions made their move. Mbappe started it following a throw-in on the left, and Theo Hernandez went flying past, as if expecting a pass from his No.10.

Finding the way barred by Ziyech, Mbappe turned inside, passing back to Youssouf Fofana, who had taken up the left-hand station in central midfield after Adrien Rabiot fell sick. Just behind Fofana was Ibrahima Konate, who had replaced the unwell Dayot Upame- cano. Rather than go further back, Fofana passed crossfield to Raphael Varane, who had stepped into midfield.

Griezmann made his first dart, targeting the gaps in Morocco’s defence, but the ball didn’t come so he checked back, ready to go again, again eyeing the space behind Jawad El Yamiq. This time Varane delivered, stroking the ball 40 yards through the lines, and El Yamiq made a terrible misjudgment. He thought he could intercept but the ball was moving too swiftly. Griezmann had gambled on it arriving, and had set off down the inside-right channel.

The ball soon joined him, and Griezmann nudged it forward twice. Having entered the area, Griezmann flicked the ball back with the outside of his foot towards Mbappe. Men in red shirts threw themselves in the way, first Hakimi, blocking Mbappe’s first effort and then Achraf Dari standing up to Mbappe’s second attempt.

The ball looped up, dropping too far away from Morocco’s goalkeeper, Bono, but falling for Hernandez, who had decided to join the attack, running in from the left. The defender had to launch himself into the air to make contact with the bouncing ball, meeting it with his left foot, sending it down past Bono, who tried to spread himself, and Dari, who failed to react quickly enough on the line. As impressive a finish as it was, El Yamiq should have cut out Varane’s pass, and Dari could have done better on the line.

There was so much frustration for Morocco, whose defence was weakened before the start when Nayef Aguerd withdrew just before kick-off with Dari slotting into the back five and then Romain Saiss limped off for Selim Amallah.

Yet Morocco still believed. Lloris needed to be at his athletic best, saving from Ounahi and then from El Yamiq’s overhead kick. For France, Olivier Giroud hit a post. Didier Deschamps then demonstrated his game-management, sending on Marcus Thuram for Giroud. Thuram went left, and Mbappe assumed Giroud’s role through the middle. Thuram looked good when he came on but the real star of the show for France continued to be Griezmann. One moment he was creating a chance for Thuram, the next he was cutting out crosses from Ounahi and Boufal.

Deschamps then withdrew the quiet Dembele and sent on Randal Kolo Muani. It proved an inspired substitution. With 11 minutes left, Mbappe slipped the ball left to Thuram before taking the return. He wriggled into the area before getting off a shot that carried to the far post where Kolo Muani pounced. It was his first touch and France were through to their second successive World Cup final. “Playing two World Cup finals in a row is incredible,” said Hernandez.

So Morocco’s dream died. But not their fans’ singing, and certainly not their hope of returning to a semi-final one day. They will always have Qatar.

THE TIMES