Absent from training, Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano are uncertain for the match against Morocco this Wednesday, December 14 in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
17:31 – Video: Didier Deschamps keeps in shape
On the official account of the France team, Didier Deschamps was filmed doing his sports session. An intense session, every day, to keep in shape.
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Didier Deschamps keeps fit every day! Immersion with our coach in the gym at the base camp of the Blues ????
Full video ➡️ https://t.co/SWh8eqqtTO#ProudToBeBlues pic.twitter.com/FnvDA3N8C7
— French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) December 13, 2022
17:03 – 10,000 police officers mobilized in France
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Tuesday December 13 that 10,000 police officers will be mobilized on Wednesday evening, including 5,000 in Paris for the France-Morocco match in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
17:01 – An airlift between Qatar and Morocco
In order to allow many supporters of Morocco to come and support the Atlas Lions, the national company Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has decided to charter nearly 30 special flights available to Moroccan supporters, between Casablanca and Doha, on Tuesday and Wednesday. “To allow the many Moroccans wishing to support the national team in its epic and to experience the emotion of the semi-final of the World Cup […]Royal Air Maroc has set up a real air bridge between Casablanca and Doha,” said a press release.
16:31 – Tickets for France-Morocco distributed Tuesday to Moroccan supporters in Doha
The first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, Morocco will need all the support they can to try to win against the men of Didier Deschamps. According to RMC Sport, the Moroccan Federation has therefore decided to distribute free tickets to its supporters present in Qatar to go to the match. A red wave should therefore sweep over the stands. Those interested should go at 10 a.m. local time on Tuesday to Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakra. “Rest assured, there will be something for everyone,” said Mohamed Boudrika, president of Raja Club Athletic de Casablanca.
16:25 – Tchouaméni well present
Good news, however, Aurélien Tchouaméni is present in collective training, he who was absent Monday, December 12 due to a crutch received against England.
4:20 p.m. – Upamecano and Rabiot packages?
Hard blow for the France team. “Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot are spared and remain in the room this afternoon,” said the FFF in a press release this Tuesday, December 13 at 24h from the semi-final of the World Cup against Morocco. Already absent yesterday, the Bayern defender is more than uncertain while doubt remains about Adrien Rabiot.
16:02 – Deschamps, the “best coach in the world” for Regragui
“We advance in the competition and the more we advance, the more difficult the matches. We will play the world champion team with a high quality coach, the best coach in the world. We will continue with what we know how to do with a lot of ambition to create a surprise and why not go to the World Cup final” launched Walid Regragui in tribute to Didier Deschamps before this France – Morocco.
3:33 p.m. – The mayor of the 8th arrondissement asks for the closure of the Champs
For fear of certain overflows, the mayor of the 8th arrondissement of Paris asked the closure of the Champs Elysées to the town hall of Paris. “The ideal would be the process used for the New Year, namely a closure of the Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe”. 2,000 police officers will be mobilized by the prefecture, against 1,200 on December 10. Insufficient according to the elected official, who explains that she wants to “avoid moments of panic because that is where there are the most accidents”.
15:03 – “Achraf will be over-motivated” for Regragui
Asked about the Hakimi / Mbappé duel at a press conference on the eve of France – Morocco in the semi-finals of the World Cup, the coach of the Atlas Lions asks above all not to focus on the PSG striker .
14:33 – An honor to face France for Regragui
The Morocco coach expressed his immense joy and honor to face the French team in the semi-finals. “It’s an honor and a pleasure to face France. We’re going to play the best team in the world, with the best coach in the world. For a coach like me, it’s always good to test yourself. It’s going to be special for my loved ones, for the family. But what matters is to win. We had already talked about it before Belgium, with the dual nationals who are in the team (Amallah, etc.).
14:03 – Louis Van Gaal in support of Morocco
Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal has expressed his support for Morocco. “Hello dear Moroccans, I put on a green polo shirt. And you know why, because the green is in Morocco’s shirt. I hope you make it to the final. Atlas Lion Wallah (go ahead), congratulations Morocco,” he said.
13:33 – Morocco “ready for anything” to win
Walid Regragui, coach of Morocco, was very offensive in a press conference. The boss of the Atlas Lions had a clear message to convey: “we want to win. We are ready to do anything to achieve this goal. We will have extraordinary energy. To say that we are satisfied to have reached the half “The finals don’t suit us. It may be the only chance to win it. We’re on a mission. We’re not tired, I insist. We’re going to run, there won’t be any fatigue.” We have an opportunity, I don’t want to waste it. I don’t want to wait forty years. There are times when you have to mark your territory, now is the time!”
13:12 – What odds for France – Morocco?
The France team is the favorite against Morocco on Wednesday December 14, for the semi-final of the World Cup. In any case, this is the almost unanimous prognosis among the bookmakers, on the eve of the match…
12:45 – France facing the best defense in the World Cup
During this semi-final, the France team will challenge the best defense in the World Cup. Since the start of the competition, Morocco have only conceded one goal, against Canada, in their third and last pool match (2-1 victory). Otherwise, neither Croatia, nor Belgium, nor Spain, nor Portugal have shaken the Moroccan nets. “We are going to find the solution. This team has the ability to defend very well, not all the opponents have found the solution, but we must not reduce it only to the defensive sector, otherwise it would not be in semi-final. It was the team that defended the best, with a well-defined organization. I watched everything, my observers saw all the matches and there are elements to take into account”, commented Didier Deschamps at a press conference.
12:21 – Pogba in support of the Blues before the semi-final
Forced to withdraw from the World Cup, Paul Pogba sent a message of encouragement to the players of the France team. In a video call with Kinglsey Coman, the midfielder gave motivation to his selection teammates. “Together, I’m with you! I give you all my strength. All my strength to this group there. This is my group, this is my guys”, we hear him say in a video posted on the France team’s Twitter account.
12:04 – Lloris wants to “break through the Moroccan wall as soon as possible”
Faced with Morocco, Hugo Lloris believes that “it will not be[dra] not waste time in performance.” Understand: be offensive from the start. “You have to attack hard and try to break through this Moroccan wall as early as possible in the match” explained the goalkeeper of the France team, who does not not deny that it “false[dra] patience”. The captain of the Blues calls for “keeping a certain balance to avoid counter-attacks”, facing a team “very efficient in rapid transition.”
11:43 – Deschamps salutes an Upamecano “more loose, more confident”
Holder since the start of the World Cup (except against Tunisia), Dayot Upamecano won in central defense with the Blues. After experiencing some difficulties during his first selections, the Bayern Munich player is “more relaxed, more confident”, as Didier Deschamps acknowledged. “There was something, emotionally and psychologically, that held him back a bit in his expression compared to what I can see from his games with Bayern Munich,” explained the coach. But the latter does not “regret having insisted” with the ex of Leipzig. : “he is a defender who, on the athletic aspect, goes quickly, is good in the duel, he has a good ability to raise.” For the tricolor coach, there are still some aspects to refine, especially in the recovery: “at times, he wants to improve balls that cannot be improved.” The semi-final against Morocco should still make him grow, alongside Raphaël Varane.
11:11 – For Deschamps, Griezmann “has this ability to change the face of the team”
Sparkling since the start of the World Cup, Antoine Griezmann will still be one of the major assets of the France team, Wednesday evening, against Morocco. At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Didier Deschamps acknowledged “that Antoine was very good, but there is still a match where it is better for him to be very good.” In the eyes of the coach, “he is a player who has this ability to change the face of the team by what he does, he is someone who has a high volume of play, who brings his technical touch. ” The repositioning of the Atlético Madrid player lower in the tricolor midfield since the start of the World Cup, operated by “DD”, is proving to be a success. For the coach, “this slightly different role suits him very well because for him, he takes as much pleasure in defending, in making a tackle, as in making a pass, even if his first role is obviously not to recover balls. But each time, with his left paw, he has an ability to light up the game”, also praising a player “who has always thought collectively above all and who has above-average generosity”.
10:56 – “It makes a lot of noise”: Deschamps evokes Moroccan fervor
Present after Hugo Lloris in front of the press, Didier Deschamps also spoke of the atmosphere that should reign in the stadium tomorrow evening. If the coach refutes the term hostile – “it immediately puts a negative aspect” -, he prefers to evoke a “popular fervor which is very important. What I can tell you is that it’s a lot of noise. I could hear it. My observers told me and repeated it.” If for the captain of the 98 world champions it is not a decisive element, knowing the context before, “it’s always better. My players know what to expect.”
10:45 – Lloris fears the “hostile climate in the stadium”
At a press conference this Tuesday morning, Hugo Lloris, goalkeeper and captain of the France team, said he feared the “hostile climate that will reign in the stadium, which will be in the colors of Morocco. We will have to be ready for that. going to make noise, we won’t be able to hear each other.” Thus, for the record holder of selections with the Blues, the moments off the field will be key for the Habs: “in the preparation, before the match, at half-time, it will be necessary to be very precise in the subjects of discussion compared to the tactical approach, to positioning.”
The 2022 World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco will be played on December 14, 2022 at Al Bayt Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. French time.
Without surprise and except last minute injury, Didier Deschamps should align his eleven type for this semi-final. Lloris – Hernandez, Varane, Upamecano, Koundé – Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Griezmann – Mbappé, Giroud, Dembélé.
Despite the rather fabulous course of the Moroccans, the French team, reigning world champion, is the great favorite of the meeting. But beware of the Atlas Lions who have conceded only one goal since the start of this World Cup and who are playing the first semi-final in their history and who therefore have nothing to lose.