AL KHOR, Qatar — It is not a game they will remember, or that will be remembered by many at all. France–Morocco at Al-Bayt stadium on Wednesday night didn’t reach the heights and drama many had hoped, despite the wonderful atmosphere created by the fans in red and green.
It was entertaining, for sure, but that was about it. The French players won’t care though; it was a game that had to be won, regardless of how. It was a semifinal of a big tournament, and that they know how to deal with. They have won the last six they have played (1998, 2000, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2022) at the World Cup or the Euros. Basically, when France are in the last four, they always qualify for the final.
For the fourth time in the last seven World Cups, they will compete for the ultimate prize. That’s some achievement in itself. They have an incredible opportunity to go back-to-back as well.
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As keeper Hugo Lloris pointed out, his team “suffered” to get there. This is part of their DNA. This is what they do. They control games, which means at times they are put under pressure, but they always find a way to win. They are not blowing teams away, they are not spectacular, they are not sexy or fancy. But Les Bleus win. They are the most efficient and resilient side in the world and have been for four years.
Their adventure might end in tears as they watch Lionel Messi lift his first and last World Cup on Sunday night but you would not past them to cause another heartbreak, like with the heroic Moroccans on Wednesday. Denying Messi of a world crown would be cruel but that’s part of the game. France would have to play better than on Wednesday but then again, they still dismantled Morocco, the surprised package of this incredible tournament — something that Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal could not do.
It was a game which France coach Didier Deschamps and his men didn’t do anything great but didn’t do anything wrong either. This is their mantra. They don’t make mistakes but they capitalise on others making some.
For the second game in a row, after England in the quarterfinal, they didn’t play well but they managed to see it through. They were not under as much pressure as against England, but these two games show again what this team is about. Ruthlessness, killer instinct, mental strength, calm in the storm — call it what you want, the French have it.
Deschamps, who in 10 years at the helm has now reached a quarterfinal (2014), final (2016), won (2018), last 16 (2021), and now a finalist at least (2022) tells his players all the time: “It is all about winning.”
