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FIFA WORLD-CUP QATAR 2022 (SMI-SPORTS-NOV. 20- DEC. 18, 2022)-The semifinal-rounds of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, concluded Today Dec. 14, with 2-time world-cup and reigning champions 'France' defeating Morocco 2-0, advancing to face Argentina who defeated Croatia 3-0, yesterday in the final game next Sunday Dec.18, at Lusail Stadium.
France and Argentina have won 2-world cup titles each in their history of FIFA World Cup tournament, and both teams will meet in the final championship game for the first time in search of their 3rd world cup crown.
In the other scenario, Croatia who finished runner-up at the last World Cup Russia 2018, after losing 4-2, to France in the final championship game, will face the sensational Africa/Arab nation of Morocco for third-place finish on Saturday Dec. 17, 10:00am at Khalifa International Stadium.
Morocco, who was considered the cinderella team prior to the start of the world Cup Qatar 2022, made history in becoming the first African/Arab nation to reach the semifinal rounds of a FIFA World Cup, and shocked the world of international football with historic victories over Belgium (World#2), Spain(World#7) and Portugal (World#9) who are ranked inside the top-10, teams of the world.
" The Atlas Lions " reached the semifinal rounds defeating Belgium 2-0, in the group stage competition to finish first and undefeated with two victories and a draw in group F, advancing to the round of 16, and eliminating the Belgians out of the tournament.
In the knockout stage, Morocco stunned the 2010 world cup champions Spain 3-0, in penalty kicks and Portugal 1-0, in the quarterfinals to knock-out both teams of the World Cup Qatar 2022.
The French team also known as ' Les Blues '(The Blues), opened the score very early in the game through defender Theo Hernandez(AC Milan) at 5'-minute of play. During a counter-attack through the right-side pitch corner, defender Raphael Varane sent a rolling pass to Antoine Griezmann who ran inside the 18' and gave it to striker Kylian Mbappe who shot a left-footed deflecting-off a Morocco's defender to Theo Hernandez who was wide open and all alone facing goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and shot a high left-footed that ended inside back of the net to put France in front 1-0, over Morocco.
With France leading 1-0, both teams exchanged counter-attacks the rest of the half with Morocco almost found the equalizer when midfielder Azzedine Ounahi from outside the 18', shot a canon directed to the French goal but it was saved to the side by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at 9' minute.
"Les Blues" answered back with a counter-attack of their own through the left-side field, and had a chance to increase its lead when striker Olivier Giroud received a pass from the backfield and who inside the penalty area shot a left-footed canon bouncing-off the left goalpost out of bound at 16' minute. And in another opportunity to score for France, Giroud received a perfect pass inside the 18' from midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid) and who immediately tried to curve or flick the ball towards the goal but it landed out of bound at 35' minute.
With the time winding down in the first half, Morocco missed a chance to find the equalizer at 43' minute, when midfielder Hakim Ziyech through a corner kick centered the ball inside the 18' , and defender Jawad El Yamiq tried to score with bicycle kick but bounced-off the left goalpost to closed-out the half with France leading 1-0, over Morocco.
In the second half, both teams traded counter-attacks through the first 35' minute with not major danger to either goal, until the French found the back of net once gain to make it 2-0, at 79' minute through Randal Kolo Muani.The goal was originated by striker Kylian Mbappe who inside the penalty area tried to evade three defenders and kicked a right-footed deflecting-off Abde Ezzalzouli's foot to Randal Kolo Muani who scored to sealed the victory of France 2-0, over Morocco.

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