World Cup winners and losers: Morocco’s tentative finishing ends magical run
The Cinderella run for Morocco got here to an finish on Wednesday, as France edged the shocking semifinalists 2-0 at Al Bayt Stadium to succeed in their second consecutive World Cup remaining.
That units up a scintillating assembly with Argentina in Sunday’s remaining, as Les Bleus try to change into the primary workforce since Brazil to efficiently retain the World Cup.
For Morocco, it’s a brutal conclusion to a exceptional match, however it will possibly maintain its head excessive after a hard-fought contest towards the world champions.
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Here are three winners and three losers from Wednesday’s semifinal.
WINNERS
Antoine Griezmann
Four years in the past, Antoine Griezmann was considered one of France’s main scorers with 4 targets whereas main the road.
It’s been a special story in 2022. Griezmann has been revitalized in a box-to-box midfield function, but his affect remains to be robust. He could be scoring with regularity, however the 31-year-old leads all gamers in open-play anticipated assists (xA) and is tied for fourth in open-play probabilities created with eight, per Opta.
Griezmann’s playmaking skills and spacial interpretation led to France’s opening objective. The Atlético Madrid star started the match occupying the suitable half-space with proper winger Ousmane Dembele hugging the touchline. This led to Griezmann dropping deep to gather a cross from Raphael Varane, slipping previous Jawad El Yamiq and forcing Morocco into last-ditch defending to no avail.
In whole, Griezmann had three key passes, 21 of 26 accomplished passes, two interceptions, two tackles and an astounding 9 recoveries, highlighting his defensive work fee.
The rebirth of Griezmann has been one of many revelations of this World Cup and it’ll be fascinating to see it play out on Sunday.
Ibrahima Konate
If it wasn’t for Ibrahima Konate, France would’ve been despatched dwelling and it’s not hyperbole to say that.
The Liverpool defender, who changed the flu-stricken Dayot Upamecano, was imperious on the again. For practically an hour, Konate had little help with Theo Hernandez bombing ahead from left-back, Kylian Mbappe barely monitoring again and Youssouf Fofana occupying a extra central function. Normally, the left-sided central midfielder is tasked with defending that wing however clearly coach Didier Deschamps wished extra cowl within the half areas.
Nonetheless, Konate was shutting down area all night. He racked up two blocks, two recoveries, 4 clearances and 5 interceptions whereas passing his manner by Morocco’s excessive press.
This was Konate’s first look since France’s group-stage finale towards Tunisia and his third sport of the match. Talk about clutch.
Azzedine Ounahi
Even in defeat, Azzedine Ounahi was the star for Morocco in its first-ever semifinal.
Despite having to meet two solely totally different roles throughout the sport, the 24-year-old was as much as the problem. Coach Walid Regragui opted for a double pivot in midfield with Ounahi and Sofyan Amrabat, who have been stretched by having to cowl all that floor with out the same old third midfielder to assist them.
But Ounahi was nonetheless cooking. The Angers midfielder glided ahead with the ball by France’s midfield, linked play excellently and arrange a couple of high quality probabilities whereas nonetheless monitoring again to make sure Morocco had a preventing probability at 1-0 down.
Ounahi usually mixed with Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi on the suitable flank to use the open area vacated by Hernandez and Mbappe, as evidenced by the cross map under.
But Ounahi was equally comfy weaving his manner by stress on the dribble, finishing all three of his makes an attempt.
It’s virtually sure that Angers, at the moment battling relegation in Ligue 1, will area bids for Ounahi in January. Not solely would a sale allow Angers to replenish the squad, the Moroccan midfielder would get to carry out on a much bigger stage at membership stage. It’s a win-win throughout.
LOSERS
Walid Regragui
Take nothing away from the miracle that Walid Regragui has overseen on the World Cup.
Regragui efficiently reintegrated Noussair Mazraoui and Hakim Ziyech into the squad after they have been outcasted by earlier coach Vahid Halilhodzic on two months’ discover, guided the nation to its first quarterfinal and superior to the semifinals, a primary for an African nation.
Did we point out that Regragui has solely coached 9 video games, too?
It’s been a monumental 4 months, to say the least.
However, he does bear some duty for the loss.
Counting on the health of Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd – who was withdrawn from the lineup in warmups as he was deemed unfit to play – and Noussair Mazraoui was an enormous gamble. Obviously the historic significance performs a job contemplating the previous two have Premier League expertise and a mixed 98 caps. Mazraoui is a Bayern Munich common with 20 appearances to his title at 25 years previous. It’s truthful for a coach to lean on big-game gamers, even when they solely final till halftime, like Mazraoui.
But Aguerd couldn’t even get by warmups. Saiss was clearly struggling to maintain tempo with Olivier Giroud, a telltale signal for any defender that they’re possible incapable of taking part in, and needed to be substituted out after 20 minutes.
Plus, by beginning Saiss and changing Nayef Aguerd with Achraf Dari, who was admittedly spectacular given the circumstances, Regragui sacrificed a midfielder in its vaunted trio that guided Morocco to this stage.
Moving to a few on the again and two midfielders labored within the second half towards Portugal within the quarterfinals. But it was evident that Griezmann, Aurelien Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe have been operating rampant, and that was all the time going to be the end result.
Player-related points like Ziyech failing to trace again for France’s first objective doesn’t assist, but it surely might need been moot if Regragui didn’t stick with Saiss and used a 3rd midfielder.
Coaches routinely make daring choices, a lot of which repay like Lionel Scaloni utilizing 4 midfielders towards Croatia. This is one which blew up in Regragui’s face.
Moroccan forwards
Sometimes execution is the true downfall of the shedding workforce, whatever the coach’s choices. This was a kind of events.
Morocco responded very nicely after conceding early. It was the primary time it trailed within the match, but the composure it displayed earlier than controlling the overwhelming majority of the ultimate hour was noteworthy.
The anticipated targets (xG) don’t do Morocco justice as a result of there have been a number of whiffed pictures, last-ditch challenges and some hesitant Moroccan forwards after they had alternatives to shoot.
Therein lies the true architect of Morocco’s downfall and France’s triumph. One facet was ruthless and transformed its probabilities. The different failed to take action. It was deja vu from Saturday’s quarterfinal between England and France.
César Ramos
The Mexican referee made some questionable choices. For starters, not reserving a couple of gamers for reckless tackles that stopped some promising counter-attacks for each side.
Perhaps probably the most egregious sequence concerned Hernandez and Sofiane Boufal. It’s controversial that the French defender fouled Boufal within the field, due to this fact a penalty ought to’ve been awarded.
Even if Ramos missed the preliminary foul, the VAR officers may’ve caught it.
For the sake of everybody’s sanity, from followers to media and the groups concerned, let’s hope that Sunday’s remaining doesn’t contain controversial refereeing.
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