France - Morocco: Dream Ball
* France - Morocco: 2:00 on December 15, on MetaSports.
Before the semi-finals, FIFA announced that the remaining four matches of the 2022 World Cup would change from the Al Rihla ball, which means Journey, to the use of the Al Hilm ball, which means Dream. Compared to the previous version, Dream is inspired by the light of a lighthouse, with a football spirit that helps bring people around the world together.
In the match between Morocco and France, that spirit became even more meaningful. Morocco's journey at the 2022 World Cup inspires not only their country, but also the community of North African countries as well as the Arab world. But it also raises issues that have plagued the French government for years. That is how to integrate the North African immigrant community, which includes 1.5 million Moroccans. Before the semi-final, 10,000 French police were deployed to fight the riots.
As the Ball of Dreams rolls across Al Bayt, peace lovers hope it will blur the lines of that division. In the Morocco team for the 2022 World Cup, three members have dual Moroccan and French citizenship, including two players and head coach Walid Regragui. Oussama Adref, a young football coach of Moroccan origin in Paris, told the New York Times that choosing a team to cheer on between France and Morocco was like "choosing between your father and mother".
Many members of the French team share that feeling. They also grew up in families of immigrants. Kylian Mbappe has a Cameroonian father and an Algerian mother. Antoine Griezmann's father is Portuguese, and Ousmane Dembele's mother is Mauritian. Immigrant backgrounds make it easier for French players to get close to colleagues on the other side of the front line, like the friendship between Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi. The next semi-final could be an opportunity for the two teams to call on the spirit of FIFA to cheer before each match at the 2022 World Cup: "Football unites the world".
The confrontation between Hakimi and Mbappe is definitely the hottest spot to watch in the next match. Mbappe is with Lionel Messi leading the number of goals in the tournament with five goals. But the French striker is behind in the top scorer race due to the poor number of assists (two versus three). To reclaim the top position, Mbappe - kicking the left-wing French striker - will have to overcome his teammate at the PSG club, who holds the right wing of the Morocco defence.
"If anyone understands Mbappe better than me, it's Hakimi. Morocco will not have a specific plan to kill Mbappe because France doesn't only have him. Mbappe is a champion, but so is Hakimi. He is very good. impatient to beat his friend," Regragui revealed.
According to Regragui, although Mbappe is dangerous, the Moroccan player most in control of the French team is Antoine Griezmann. At the 2022 World Cup, Griezmann's role changed from a winger to a virtual number 9. He assisted both of France's goals in the 2-1 win over England, thereby becoming the most assisted player in the team's history. Before the semi-final, Griezmann and Messi were the two players who launched the most key passes (16).
The responsibility of blocking Griezmann will be placed on Sofyan Amrabat's shoulder. The midfielder playing for Fiorentina has caused top stars like Kevin De Bruyen, Pedri or Bruno Fernandes to fail to find their way into the Morocco penalty area. Amrabat's pass success rate of 84.4%, launching 37.2 passes per game is impressive in the context of Morocco without many balls. But his value lies in his ability to shield the defense with 41 successful recoveries.
Morocco captain Romain Saiss had to leave the field on a stretcher in the match against Portugal due to a recurrence of a hamstring injury. If he cannot play, it will be a great loss for the North African team's defense. Morocco is also without the service of reserve striker Walid Cheddira this match. As for the French team, they will have the best force after the duo Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot recover from a cold.
