HEAD-TO-HEAD ⚫ Matches 11 ⚫ France 7 ⚫ Morocco 1 ⚫ Drawn 3

FORM GUIDE ⚫ France: W W L W W ⚫ Morocco: W W W W D

Talking tactics

France: The Frenchmen have made a mockery of possession with precision. Like it was in the quarter final — England had control of the game, but France had the goals. They are unpredictable in their offensive build-ups and unmatched in their conversions. With a Flash Gordon-like Kylian Mbappe in their arsenal, France, the defending champions, have vroomed past challenges. Antoine Griezmann sketches blueprints of brilliant moves while Ousmane Dembele hovers over the right flank like a floating spirit. And while you are busy with all that, an Olivier Giroud pops up out of nowhere to score a goal. To break Morocco’s watertight defence, France will have to stretch them wide, a job Dembele and Mbappe can do very well. But they will also have to be careful with Morocco’s counterattacks. The Africans know how to use their chances. Ask Portugal.

Yassine Bounou. File photo

Morocco: Underdogs? No, Atlas Lions. And they are on the prowl, though their style is very different. They begin with a 4-3-3 system, but change formations when under attack to build a tight defensive blockage. That, besides the very effective midfield block that they apply on their opponents.

Remember, they haven’t let any rival player score against them in Qatar so far. But that record will be tested by France’s cerebral midfield and two intimidating goal-getters in Mbappe and Giroud.

Coach Walid Regragui though will have to redraw strategies as uncertainty looms over three of their defensive pillars — captain Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui. However, in Yassine Bounou, they have a goalkeeper for whom saving shots is fun. Have you seen his smile? That’s what confidence does to a team, you even smile under pressure.

Short passes

⚫ France have alternated between victory and defeat in their six World Cup meetings with African nations. They lost 0-1 against Tunisia in this year’s group stage. Guess what’s next?

⚫ No team has ever lost against two different African sides in the same World Cup before.

⚫ If they win on Wednesday, France will become the first reigning champions to reach the final of the World Cup since Brazil in 1998.

⚫ Morocco have made more clearances (137) and more tackles (104) than any other side in the 2022 World Cup.

Do you know? France’s Antoine Griezmann has been involved in eight goals in DO YOU KNOW? his last eight World Cup starts (3 goals, 5 assists).