<p>France booked a spot in the 2022 World Cup Final after defeating Morocco, 2-0. The victory provides France a chance to be the first repeat World Cup champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. </p>



<p>As a result Morocco, goes down to the third-place game. Still, this is the best finish for an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/morocco-represents-africa-at-2022-world-cup-20221210-WST-411906.html">African side at the World Cup</a>.</p>



<p>Throughout the tournament, Morocco relied on strong defensive play. It would steal a goal off a set piece or hold out for penalties, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/hakimi-panenka-puts-morocco-in-the-quarter-finals-20221206-WST-411480.html">as it did against Spain</a>. For reference, no team scored on Morocco during its five games at the World Cup in 2022. The only concession was an own goal against Canada. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, or Bono, has a legitimate chance to win the award for best goalkeeper. </p>



<p>The issue was the other team’s offense. France has an embarrassment of riches across the pitch. Therefore, it is fitting that two players not meant to start, or even appear, in the tournament grabbed both the goals. </p>



<h5>Unlikely French goalscorers</h5>



<p>All the chatter of this World Cup in the French camp was the play of Kylian Mbappé with five goals. Or, it centered around Olivier Giroud setting the French goalscoring record with four goals. </p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="France &amp; Morocco&apos;s walk-outs and National Anthems ahead of semifinals matchup at 2022 FIFA World Cup" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cEWMQ5zOZpo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p>It did not, however, focus on Theo Hernandez. The left back was a reserve to his brother, Lucas Hernandez. However, when Lucas picked up a serious injury against Australia in the first group stage game, Theo fit in naturally. </p>



<p>He attempted a wild high kick after a deflected shot that beat Bono. It was just his second goal with the national team. The other actually sent France to the UEFA Nations League Finals in 2021. It was 1-0 to France inside the first five minutes. </p>



<p>Then, Randall Kolo Muani scored the insurance goal in the 79th minute. The interesting fact about Kolo Muani is that Didier Deschamps did not originally select the player for the World Cup. Instead, he only joined the squad as a <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/christopher-nkunku-injury-world-cup-heavyweights-france-suffer-big-blow-on-eve-of-trip-to-qatar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">replacement for Christopher Nkunku</a>. Remarkably, that was Kolo Muani’s first goal in the French kit. Not a bad time to get it.</p>



<h2>France reaches another World Cup Final</h2>



<p>Morocco had more of the ball. The Atlas Lions had 62% possession to France’s 38%. However, Hugo Lloris and the French defense always had an answer. The one time it did not, the post denied a goal. Jawad El Yamiq attempted an overhead kick that forced Lloris into a desperate dive. Then, the clank of the post denied an equalizer.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BIKE KICK OFF THE POST<br><br>Morocco almost tied things up in an incredible fashion 😳 <a href="https://t.co/tdqSsyDs55">pic.twitter.com/tdqSsyDs55</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1603114113424818179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>France was the better team on the day, even if Morocco looked perhaps the more creative. An early injury exit to Romain Saiss, one of the defenders of the tournament, did no favors to protecting Moroccan security at the back. That being said, Morocco did temper the attempts of Kylian Mbappé. </p>



<p>Now, France has a date with Argentina in the World Cup Final. In many ways, it is a battle of eras. Kylian Mbappé, at just 23 years old, can have two World Cups to his name before he truly hits the prime of his career. Or, Lionel Messi can close out his international career with the one trophy he is missing. Sunday’s World Cup Final, fittingly, meets all the criteria for a fantastic intercontinental showdown.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Ulmer/Teamfoto</em></p>



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France ends Morocco run, reaches World Cup Final

France reached its second straight World Cup Final after defeating Morocco, 2-0, in the second semifinal of the 2022 World Cup.

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<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/france-national-team-tv-schedule/">France</a> have suffered a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/19/karim-benzema-ruled-out-of-whole-world-cup-in-major-blow-to-france" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">major blow </a>in their quest to defend the World Cup trophy as star striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the tournament through injury. Head Coach Didier has mentioned that he won’t call in a replacement for the Real Madrid striker.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There will be no replacement for Karim Benzema, France coach Deschamps confirms. 🚨🇫🇷 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Qatar2022</a><br><br>After Kolo-Muani replacing Nkunku, no new changes in France list for the World Cup. <a href="https://t.co/j5oELC4791">pic.twitter.com/j5oELC4791</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1594282274408767489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>Benzema injured during training</h5>



<p>Benzema was forced out of the national team’s training camp on Saturday after feeling pain in the quadriceps of his left thing. An MRI scan later confirmed that the 34-year-old suffered a tendon injury, recovery from which could take over three weeks. The Ballon D’or Winner has hardly played competitive football in the past few weeks and Saturday’s training session was his first for the Les Blues.</p>



<p>France are already without N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Christopher Nkunku, Princel Kimpembe and Deschamps now faces a huge challenge to defend the crown from four years back. </p>



<p>The 54-year-old coach said, “<em>I am extremely sad for Karim who made this World Cup a major goal. Despite this new blow for the French team, I have full confidence in my group. We will do everything to meet the huge challenge that awaits us</em>.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“In my life I have never given up… but tonight I have to think of the team as I have always done so reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our group to make a great world cup. Thank you for all your messages of support”.<br><br>Karim Benzema. <a href="https://t.co/uKC1upPMWX">pic.twitter.com/uKC1upPMWX</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1594105874972565505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Benzema last played in a World Cup match in Brazil, 2014 where he was the top scorer for his country but missed Russia, 2018 as he was exiled from the national squad for his involvement in a sex tape extortion scandal.</p>



<p>On being asked why he wouldn’t replace Benzema, Deschamps responded, “<em>Because I decided, simply</em>”. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🗣️ <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasMekhiche?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ThomasMekhiche</a> : "Est-ce que Karim Benzema sera remplacé ?"<br><br>– Didier Deschamps : "Non" <a href="https://t.co/K5YVM7apmT">pic.twitter.com/K5YVM7apmT</a></p>— Téléfoot (@telefoot_TF1) <a href="https://twitter.com/telefoot_TF1/status/1594270366423293954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h5>Replacement options if Deschamps changes his mind</h5>



<p>Deschamps still has time till Monday if he decides to change his mind, with Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder the most viable options. None of the two bring in qualities that Benzema possesses to turn any game on its head.</p>



<p>France, however, have been boosted by defender Raphael Varane’s recovery from injury. The 29-year-old center back came through Saturday’s training session unscathed as is expected to play a pivotal role in defense throughout the tournament.</p>



<p>The defending Champions have been placed alongside Denmark, Australia and Tunisia in Group D and have the firepower to top the group despite the injury setbacks. </p>



<p>Les Blues kickstart their campaign against Australia on Tuesday.</p>



<p><em>Photo credit: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire</em></p>



<div style="background:#f9e4ea;padding:10px;">
<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
<div style="padding:10px;">
Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in soccer!
</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
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Major blow for France as Benzema is ruled out of World Cup

France have suffered a major blow ahead of the World Cup as star striker Karim Benzema has bene ruled out through injury.

Major blow for France as Benzema is ruled out of World Cup - World Soccer Talk

Latest news from Didier Deschamps. Find out about all the news related to Didier Deschamps on worldsoccertalk.com

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France ends Morocco run, reaches World Cup Final

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Major blow for France as Benzema is ruled out of World Cup