France booked its ticket to a second straight World Cup with a 2-0 win over Morocco on Wednesday.
Kylian Mbappe and his squad will look to defend their World Cup crown against his PSG teammate Lionel Messi and Argentina on Sunday.
Les Bleus became the first nation to earn consecutive men’s World Cup final appearances since Brazil in 1998 and 2002, and the first to defend a title since the Brazilians in 1962. On the women’s side, the United States successfully defended its World Cup title in 2019.
France broke the ice five minutes into the game. Mbappe’s shot from inside the box was blocked by the Moroccan defence but Theo Hernandez tried his luck on the half-volley and sunk in the opening goal.
Hernandez’s early effort was Morocco’s first goal conceded by an opposing side. The only goal Morocco had allowed before the match was an own-goal in a 4-1 win over Canada.
The first African nation to qualify for a semifinal had to play catch-up soccer for the first time of the tournament.
Morocco was inches away from finding an equalizer in the final moments of the first half. On a corner kick opportunity, centre back Jawal El Yamiq attempted a bicycle kick that hit the left goal post.
France sealed its spot in the final in the 79th minute. Mbappe attracted four Moroccan players on his side of the box before playing the ball to substitute Randal Kolo Muani, who bagged his first goal for the French national team.
