FIFA WC 2022 | SF2 | France vs Morocco Preview & Prediction | H2H | line-up

Defending champions France and Morocco are for a historic battle on Wednesday (December 14) as they meet for the first time in a competitive match. 

The match also marks the first time in the 92-year-old history of the FIFA World Cup that an African nation would take guards in the form of Morocco. The champions will know that they can’t take the opposition lightly knowing they are still unbeaten in the tournament. Ahead of the big battle on Wednesday, here are all the details of the head-to-head and form for the France vs Morocco clash.

France vs Morocco Head to Head

This will be the first meeting between the sides at the competitive level which will go down in the history books. In the previous 11 meetings between the sides, all have come in friendly encounters and friendly cup matches. It is worth noting that the two teams will meet for the first time in 15 years, having last crossed paths in November 2007 in a 2-2 friendly meeting.

The only win for Morocco in the fixture came in the 1963 A vs B competition when they edged the French side 2-1. Since then they have shared three draws, including one in their previous meeting. Before the 2007 meeting, Morocco lost five consecutive matches and will be in search of their first win over the opposition in 59 years.

France vs Morocco Head to Head

FIFA World Cup 2022 so far

Didier Deschamps’s side was one of the big favourites to win the World Cup coming into the tournament and have so far lived up to the expectations. They dismantled Australia 4-1 in the opening match while they got the better of Denmark by 2-1. The dead-rubber clash against Tunisia could be an alarm bell as they lost the match 0-1 in the final group game. However, they were back in business in the Round of 16 as they beat Poland 3-1 and then dispatched England 2-1, where they had luck on their side.

Morocco on the flip side have been impeccable and gone the entire tournament unbeaten. They started the World Cup with a goalless draw against Croatia and then followed that with wins against Belgium by 2-0 and Canada by 2-1. In the knockout stage, they prevailed in the penalty shootout by 3-0 and followed that with a historic 1-0 win to book their passage into the last four of the FIFA World Cup.

Group Standings

Knockout stage results

France

R16 – France 3-1 Poland

Quarterfinal – England 1-2 France

Morocco 

R16 – Morocco 0-0 Spain (Morocco won 3-0 on penalties)

Quarterfinal – Morocco 1-0 Portugal

Suspensions

France- None

Morocco – Walid Cheddira

World Cup Record

France

Morocco

France vs Morocco Predicted Lineup

France (4-2-3-1): 

Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud

Morocco (4-3-3):

Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

France vs Morocco Date, kick-off time, and venue

The FIFA World Cup 2022 Semifinal-2 encounter on Thursday, December 15 will kick-off at 12:30 AM IST, 10:00 PM Local Time (Wednesday evening)

Venue

Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor

Prediction

Related article: FIFA WC 2022 | SF 2 | France vs Morocco | H2H | Last 5 meetings