The band at Deschamps is launched on a historic day for French football, with qualification for a World Cup final if all goes well… Emmanuel Macron will be in the stands.
20:39 – Relive Théo Hernandez’s goal on video
Just five minutes after the start of the France-Morocco semi-final, Théo Hernandez managed to send the ball into the net. The France team leads 1 to 0. Did you miss Théo Hernandez’s goal? No worries, the sequence is to relive without further delay in the video below:
20:16 – Emmanuel Macron called the King of Morocco before the semi-final
According to BFM TV, the President of the French Republic spoke with Mohammed VI by telephone before the France-Morocco semi-final which started a few minutes ago. However, no element concerning the content of their exchanges has leaked. As a reminder, Emmanuel Macron traveled to Qatar to attend the match this Wednesday evening.
19:42 – Here is the starting XI of the French team for the semi-final of the World Cup
Didier Deschamps finally decided to line up H. Lloris (cap.) – Koundé, Varane, I. Konaté, T. Hernandez – Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Y. Fofana – O. Dembélé, Giroud, Mbappé. Upamecano is replaced by Konaté, but is still on the bench, while Rabiot is absent from the score sheet and replaced by Fofana.
19:12 – Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano absent for the semi-final against Morocco
Their presence for France – Morocco was compromised, the verdict finally fell. Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano are not holders for the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup. The coach of the France team, Didier Deschamps, finally preferred to align Youssouf Fofana and Ibrahima Konaté.
6:32 p.m. – Barely a few hours before the kick-off of France – Morocco, visit to the Blues locker room
Tick, tock, tick tock… The clock is ticking. The World Cup semi-final between France and Morocco is fast approaching. To wait, the Twitter account of the French team offers us, on video, a short quick tour of the Blues locker room:
4:40 p.m. – The 20 million viewers mark crossed during the semi-final?
It is an understatement to say that the France team has been a hit with audiences since the start of the World Cup. Its round of 16 was watched by, on average, 14.32 million people. An audience already higher than for the 1/8th of 2018 (12.5M). In 1/4 against England, 18.7 million French people followed the match. Such an audience had not been reached on television since the Tricolores final in 2018 (19.3M). So, will this meeting between France and Morocco cross the milestone of 20 million viewers? It’s a safe bet that yes, given the enthusiasm aroused by the Blues of Didier Deschamps but, above all, the fervor that drives the Atlas Lions, especially in France.
14:39 – Can Emmanuel Macron escape political questions tonight?
Will the French president carefully avoid journalists tonight in Doha? If he stops at a microphone, Emmanuel Macron exposes himself to being questioned on non-sporting subjects, but which seem unavoidable: what to think of the corruption scandal brought to light by Belgian justice, within the European Union, and who openly suspects Qatar? How can he not take a stand, when he has built an international aura by making himself the herald of Western democracy in the face of the growing influence of autocracies? Can Emmanuel Macron go to Qatar without saying a word about violated human rights or about the ecological aberration of the World Cup? The easiest thing for Emmanuel Macron is to stay on this line: display sporting support and stay in this corridor. But he will have to stay put on his communication until his return to France, scheduled shortly after the end of France-Morocco.
14:09 – Emmanuel Macron on the plane to Doha
As reported by the L’Equipe site, the presidential plane with Emmanuel Macron on board took off from Orly at 11 a.m. The arrival of the Head of State in Doha is scheduled for 6 p.m., two hours before the start of the match: the President will not have time to honor diplomatic meetings before kick-off and he has no doubt very carefully planned his schedule for this. Emmanuel Macron’s statements this evening will obviously be very commented on, it is likely that he will meet the players or coach Didier Deschamps even in the event of a defeat this evening against the Moroccan team.
11:51 – 53% of French people approve of Emmanuel Macron’s trip to Qatar
According to an Elabe poll for BFM TV, 53% of French people approve of the Head of State’s decision to travel to Qatar to support the French team in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Conversely, 23% “not really” and 23% “not at all” approve of the Head of State’s visit to Doha. Those who qualify as “football fans” are 67% to approve of Emmanuel Macron’s decision.
09:57 – What do we know about the preparation for the match on the Blues side?
Didier Deschamps knows that tonight’s poster is a trap for his team: the Blues will have to find the key against a very well organized Morocco team, which defends very well and leaves the ball to their opponents to operate against -offensive. Beware also of overconfidence for a match where the France team is clearly the favourite. The coach of the France team should rely on the same system of play and the same 11 holder as during France-England. An unknown remains: that concerning the presence or not of Adiren Rabiot in the midfield. The Juventus player is ill and was preserved during previous training this beginning of the week. But it is likely that he will be lined up tonight, given what is at stake. The probable composition would undoubtedly be this: Lloris – Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, THernandez – Tchouaméni, Griezmann, Rabiot – Dembélé, Giroud, Mbappé. To follow the latest news on this France-Morocco match, with information on the preparation for this meeting, go to the article below:
The numbers of each player of the France team were revealed on November 15, just one week before their entry into the competition. Captain and goalkeeper of the team, Hugo Lloris wears the number 1. We note that the 9 was left to Olivier Giroud when Karim Benzema inherited the 19 before leaving the Blues on withdrawal. Antoine Griezmann wears the 7 and the 10 was offered to Kylian Mbappé.
Here is the ranking of the top scorer of the French football team with Olivier Giroud at the top of the hierarchy ahead of Thierry Henry: