“If Argentina manages to cage Mbappé, they will have chances”

From the bad, the good: Céline Gounder, wife of American journalist Grant Wahl who fell dead at his desk during the Argentina-Holland match, reported that the cause of death was an aortic aneurysm, which had been developing for years. The Qatari authorities handed over the body of the unfortunate colleague 72 hours after his death and the autopsy was carried out in New York. The news reassures, clears up doubts and buries suspicions that he was assassinated for failing to comply with a Qatari government provision, as his own brother Eric had speculated. Wahl starred in an incident in the first match of the United States, trying to enter the stadium with a shirt with the rainbow colors of the LGTBI movement, to which his brother belongs, which is not allowed in this country.

Just as Peru was the star supporter in Russia 2018 -and received a FIFA award for it-, the Moroccan became famous here in Qatar as the loudest, perhaps the most fanatical and influential of the World Cup. roars. She was given the nickname of the Boca side, “player number twelve.” He makes a sound like a plane taking off and plays a separate game, propelling his players and howling when touched by opponents. And against France they were almost the entire stadium. We calculate 85%. The Moroccan Federation announced days ago that it would give away 13,000 tickets and thousands of fans took to one of the 30 special flights that Royal Air Maroc arranged from Casablanca at an affordable cost of $150. Added to those who were already here, they totaled more than fifty thousand. French, like Spaniards, Dutch and other Europeans, were a minority group. It is the merit of this tournament: having filled all the stadiums with almost no European public or with a meager contribution.

Morocco came to this Cup with a multinational team: 17 of its players were born in Europe, but they chose the citizenship of their parents to play with the red and green. Even their coach Walid Regragui is born and trained in France. However, they show a remarkable sense of belonging. Regragui sings the hymn passionately, almost furiously, just as they play his lead. And he ardently defends the homeland of origin. “Before the World Cup we had a lot of problems with the boys born in Morocco and in Europe. Sometimes, people and journalists said that these players do not love Morocco – he said at a press conference. – But we show the world that every Moroccan is Moroccan. When they come with the national team, they die and fight for the national team.” And he referred to himself: “I was born in France, but no one can take the heart of my country away from me. My players give 100 percent. Some were born in Germany, others in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and all these countries have a football culture.

The numbers do not explain everything, but they say something. Morocco reached the semifinal with a frightening record: just 2 defeats in their last 45 games. Both friendly, against Gabon and the United States. And with a goal against in five matches of this World Cup. The statistics supported him and also the fervor with which his footballers play, watering the field with will and courage. They did not believe themselves less than anyone. But France is France, the formative football that produces the most elite players. And although we talk about systems and work, those with the best individuals go further, with work and systems, of course. The rooster’s team also has impressive numbers: in the last three World Cups they have lost two games out of 18. With this added: in 2014 they fell 1-0 against Germany, the champion, and now in Qatar 1-0 against Tunisia, but playing with all substitutes. It is clear, then, that it is very difficult to put him on one knee.

And the prognosis came true: France 2 – Morocco 0. A result that can be misleading. It looks like a solid, even comfortable, win. It was not so. Morocco exerted a dominance of 62% against 38% for Les Bleus, albeit sterile. He pressed, pushed, insisted ad nauseam without knowing how to hit. Just, to count, a Chilean from El Yamiq who returned Lloris’s right post. The rest, approximations, feints, unfulfilled attempts. And he incurred too much inaccuracy in passing, which damaged him defensively and offensively. No one is playing well if they fail to circulate the ball. It showed a moving delivery until the very end, like in the previous games, but it lacked quality this time. He kept it high Ounahi, his right midfielder (number 8), but without accompaniment. And in front of a trade team it is not enough. The curtain fell on the dream of Morocco. He still has the honor of third place, the label of the first African to reach the world semifinals and the sensation of Qatar 2022. He has already made history.

Match without reliefs. France followed the plan that they like the most, giving the initiative and being attacked, because they know how to hold on, to then start against with spaces, especially via Mbappé, who caused the second goal despite not being a figure, as against England. Kylian started the World Cup like an arrow and has lost a bit of gravitation. In the end it may again be the atomic bomb. If Argentina manages to cage him, he will have a chance, otherwise…

The selection of La Marseillaise is a utilitarian team, even petty, they even seem to like doing the minimum if that is enough for them, they are not interested in showing off or being offensive, they go to weight. But when it attacks it is a dagger, extremely dangerous. And it’s hard to beat him because he has a solid defensive structure. He closes the roads and, if the rival finds them, Hugo Lloris is behind everyone, a wonderful goalkeeper who always saves the situation. Also, he is physically a rock. Seven of his eleven starters yesterday are Afro-descendants, strong, tall, fast. The French merit is having reached a second World Cup final despite all the casualties suffered, including Benzema, Kanté, Kimpembe and Nkunku, the four most significant. With this unglamorous, almost bureaucratic style, his coach Didier Deschamps has led France to runner-up at Euro 2016, world champion in 2018, winner of the 2021 League of Nations and now a finalist again. It may not please, but how to discuss it…?

The last bend in the road was cleared, soccer will have a new three-time world champion, Argentina or France. Who wins…? That is the subject of another column.

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