Four years after winning the World Cup in 2018, the French team arrived in Qatar injured and bruised. Angolo Kante and Paul Pogba, its two anchors in the midfield were injured before the start of the World Cup and Karim Benzema – the recent winner of the Ballon d’Or was also injured and was not available to Didier Deschamps. But that really didn’t stop the tricolor who tonight (Wednesday) qualified again for the World Cup final and will meet Argentina on Sunday after 0:2 in the semi-final against Morocco. Antoine Griezmann recorded another goalless game but was named man of the match following his countless defensive actions and also building attacks from the back.
In France it is reported that Karim Benzema is also expected to reach the final in Doha. The striker, who was absent from the World Cup due to injury, is listed in the tricolor squad and will receive a medal. Real Madrid approved him to fly to be with his friends. Meanwhile, thousands of French people had already taken to the streets of Paris to celebrate as the sky lit up with fireworks. In France they will celebrate into the night, celebrations that will certainly continue tomorrow and until the grand final on the first. By the way, those who didn’t get to celebrate with the other players right after the final whistle were Ibrahima Konata and Jules Conde, who were taken immediately after the game for a drug test.
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Summary of France’s victory over Morocco. Courtesy of Kaan 11 – the official broadcaster of the 2022 World Cup. Live broadcasts, summaries, statistics and more await you on Kaan’s World Cup page
Conde was taken for a drug test after the match
Jules Koundé & Ibrahima Konaté summoned for anti-doping tests & don’t get to celebrate qualifying for the final with teammates in the dressing room.
Koundé says: “It sucks.”pic.twitter.com/bTMU1FERiL
— Get French Football News (GFFN) December 14, 2022
Nikola Batum and Rudy Gober welcome
???????? HUGE RESPECT ????????
???????? Another one!— Nicolas Batum (nicolas88batum) December 14, 2022
Let’s gooooooo! More than the last step.????????????????????
Congratulations to Morocco for their incredible journey. ????????????????????????— Rudy Gobert (rudygobert27) December 14, 2022
Fireworks in the sky of Paris
France’s qualification for the final is celebrated in Issy-les-Moulineaux ???????? #FORWARD #Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Y5HML0xCBf
— Romain Collet-Gaudin (RomainCG75) December 14, 2022
They also celebrate in Bordeaux
Scenes of jubilation and fireworks at Place de la Victoire in #bordeaux to celebrate the qualification of theequipedefrance in the final of the #CoupeDuMondeFIFA ???????????????? #foot #francemaroc F3Aquitaine pic.twitter.com/9jx35eN7lQ
— Victor Gascouat (VictorGascouat) December 14, 2022
“We are full of pride for this achievement, we have been together for a whole month and it is never easy,” said the happy Deschamps after the game, “we are really happy and ready for Sunday.”
Theo Hernandez, who was added to Deschamps’ lineup only because of his brother Luca’s injury and scored the first goal, was elated at the final whistle: “It’s amazing to qualify for two finals in a row. We’ll do everything to win this final. I also don’t forget my injured brother.” On Sunday’s opponent: “Argentina is an amazing team, but Messi doesn’t scare us.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived just before the semi-finals and celebrated in the stands: “It’s great, we’re very proud. I feel better now than an hour and a half ago. The Moroccans played excellently. A huge thank you to our coach and this team.”
Celebrations in the streets of Marseille
???? Fireworks and smoke bombs on the Old Port! The people of Marseille came in large numbers to celebrate France’s qualification for the World Cup final ????????#francemaroc #FORWARD #marseille #teamom pic.twitter.com/DsiUj3VpgI
— Made in Marseille (MadeMarseille) December 14, 2022
BACK TO BACK WORLD CUP FINAL. ????????
— Kylian Mbappé (KMbappe) December 14, 2022
???? pic.twitter.com/Kpk38isaBo
— Get French Football News (GFFN) December 14, 2022
Yussuf Popana, who was added to the lineup at the last minute in place of the ill Adrian Ravio, said: “We dedicated hours of work to reach this status. It’s a shame that Adrian isn’t here to celebrate with us, I hope he’ll be back on Sunday. It wasn’t easy to replace him, it’s not easy to reach the level he displayed From the beginning of the tournament. Life is beautiful, we deserve to celebrate for 24 hours. I can’t believe we’re in the finals. Even Macron had no words left in the locker room. He brought a soldier with him to the locker room and introduced us to him.”
Kulu Moani, who came on as a substitute and immediately scored the second goal, was elated: “It’s magical, I have no words to describe the feeling. I’m still in a dream that will be hard for me to wake up from. I positioned myself well in Mbappe’s move because he did all the work. I can be proud In my position. Right now, I still don’t digest it. We’ll digest it maybe tomorrow.”
Hugo Lloris: “We suffered a lot in this match. We are exhausted but satisfied with the work and the result we achieved. We have a golden opportunity to make history in French football. This is the second final in four years. Not everything was perfect and on Sunday we will have to give everything we have. It will be a final Great, Argentina is an excellent team with a player who made history in the sport, but we will fight.”