Morocco 90 minutes away from once in a lifetime shot at World Cup glory

Achraf Hakimi is a professional footballer who plays for the Morocco national team and Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. He mainly plays as a right-back. Known for his speed, runs and goal scoring ability, he is regarded as one of the best right-backs in world football. Hakimi's most remarkable moment at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was the impressive…

RAYYAN, Qatar - Croatia departed the World Cup on Saturday with another medal, an extraordinary feat for a young country with a population smaller than some cities. Morocco left the World Cup with prizes that outweigh the outcome, a shining light for the Arab world and African soccer. The third-place match may feel like an unnecessary exercise…

France meet Morocco in the second of the FIFA 2022 World Cup semifinals after Lionel Messi and Argentina breezed past Croatia on Tuesday. The Atlas Lions have already made history as the first African and Arab country to reach this point while Les Bleus are looking to reach back-to-back finals. The Moroccans have been the surprise package in Qatar…

A version of this story appears in today's Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, CNN's three-times-a-week look inside the region's biggest stories. . They're known as The Atlas Lions, the Moroccan football team that's ripped up the history books at the FIFA World Cup. Their run has upended all expectations, advancing deep into uncharted…

DOHA: France face World Cup history-makers Morocco in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday, with Lionel Messi's Argentina lying in wait after another dazzling performance from the diminutive magician. The Copa America champions swept aside 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday to give the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner the chance to crown…

Kylian Mbappe celebrates France's victory over England. Photo / AP All you need to know ahead of the Fifa World Cup semifinal between France and Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium on Thursday, December 15 (kickoff 8am): Morocco's improbable, history-making run at the World Cup is about to get its ultimate test. Africa's first World Cup semifinalist are…

Defending champions France will face surprise-package Morocco in their semi-final encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Thursday, December 15. Despite eliminating their neighbours Spain and Portugal, Morocco will head into a match that can only be juxtaposed with David and Goliath. The Atlas Lions are one more…

After Morocco won its quarter-final match against Portugal at the first world cup hosted by an Arab country, players and supporters could be seen waving a variety of flags: Morocco's green star-studded red banner, Qatar's maroon and white Al-Adaam, and Palestine's triangle-adorned tricolor. For a game entrenched in national identities and rich with…

The second semifinal of the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup pits defending champions France against a Moroccan side that's entering uncharted territory when it comes to major tournaments. A French win would see the holders back in the final for the first time since Brazil in 1998 -- and for just the fifth time in the competition's history -- while…

It's France vs Morocco on Wednesday, December 14 in semifinal 2 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It all kicks off in Al-Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, at 2pm ET. The winners of this match will play the winners of Netherlands vs Argentina in the final on Sunday in Doha. We preview France vs Morocco, look at the World Cup odds, and offer some analysis, team news,…

The African nation have been in superb defensive form in the tournament and should provide stern opposition to the world champions The surprise package of the Qatar World Cup, Morocco face defending champions France on Wednesday evening for a place in the final. The first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the tournament are rank outsiders…

Few would have believed it was possible Morocco would still be in the mix at this stage of the World Cup when the tournament kicked off in Qatar in November 2022. While that is a huge upset, the even bigger story sports betting-wise is Morocco was+25000) to win the World Cup at FOXBet entering the tournament. Those are the longest odds for a team…

France, the 2018 champions, and Morocco, the first African country to ever make it to the World Cup semifinals, will face off in the World Cup 2022 semifinals with the hopes of getting to the final on Wednesday at Al Bayt. Morocco has a team that is plagued by injuries, but they offer outstanding and unexpected depth. They have a virtual home field…

2022-12-13World Cup semi-final tips: Two more surprises incoming at a tournament of shocks The 2022 Qatar World Cup has been a tournament of shocks. The world's minnows are slowly closing the gap on FIFA's elite. That has been evident. The tone was set on day three when Saudi Arabia, ranked 51st and one of the lowest-ranked teams in the tournament,…

Will it be Croatian redemption, a picture-perfect end for Lionel Messi and Argentina, a Moroccan miracle or back-to-back for Les Bleus? We're down to the final four at the Qatar World Cup and Sunday's final is already looming large. Here, Sportsmail's DAVID COVERDALE casts his eye over the semi-finalists to see how they all compare. ARGENTINA -…

France and Morocco reach the semifinals of the World Cup surrounded by great expectations, after the excellent performance they had in the quarterfinals. France reaches the elite of world football, among the four best teams in the tournament, after beating the good selection of England by 2-1. The English missed a penalty in the final minutes of…

France's defence of their crown and Morocco's miraculous run. All to play Lionel Messi in his date with destiny. England may be out but the semi-finals in Qatar promise to thrill. Messi takes Argentina into the final in his last shot at World Cup glory as he bids to cement his legacy as the greatest player ever. But standing in his way are France…

DOHA, Qatar: Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou leaned back in his chair, shook his head and said: "Pinch me, I'm dreaming." Yes, Morocco really are in the World Cup semifinals. Before arriving in Qatar, the north African nation had only ever won two of its previous 16 matches at the World Cup. The team's coach had been in position for just four…

What doesn't France do well? Although that's a rhetorical question I'm inclined to respond "nothing" because Les Bleus look like a well-oiled machine in Qatar. Coming into the World Cup as one of the favorites despite a few key injuries, this team has been the toughest of outs. They finished atop Group D on goal differential having bested inferior…

History-makers Morocco are two wins away from lifting a football World Cup trophy. The team is yet to be beaten at this year's tournament and has conceded just once - an own-goal against Canada in the group stages. Morocco has already gotten the better of big names such as Belgium, Spain and Portugal while drawing against Croatia. But standing…

Morocco have become the toast of world leaders, outstanding personalities and citizens from several countries across the globe after their historic feat, where the team reached the semi finals of the 2022 World Cup, the first for an African nation and Arab world as well since the inception of the tournament in 1930. Recall that the Atlas Lions…

One lucky punter has pulled off the bet of the FIFA World Cup, snaring more than a million dollars after backing Morocco to make the quarterfinals. Morocco defeated Spain 3-0 on penalties on Wednesday and one fan was particularly thrilled by the upset after betting USD$90818.19 (A$133000) on Morocco to reach the quarterfinals, which produced an…

The 2010 World Champions Spain now face Morocco in the Round of 16 of the 2022 edition of the World Cup in Qatar as both sides lock horns at the Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan on Wednesday, December 7. Morocco are making only their second-ever appearance in the last 16 of the World Cup since last reaching this stage back in 1986. Walid…

DOHA - Spain will be favourites to beat Morocco in the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday but the teams' experiences in the group phase were a reminder of the unpredictability of tournament football. Spain, who humbled Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening game, finished second in Group E behind Japan while Morocco defied the odds to win Group F ahead of…

Rabat - After their elimination in the Qatar World Cup semi-finals, Morocco\u2019s national football team and Croatia are set to lock horns tomorrow for a chance at claiming third-place.<\>\r\n Even though the two teams lost their chance at advancing to the finals, Morocco and Croatia still seem determined to put on a final show and clinch the&hellip;