The self-esteem of the fans and French football will undoubtedly suffer, but the international press of the time will only have eyes and words for the heroics of Messi and Argentina. Tomorrow is the semi-final France-Morocco… especially if the Atlas Lions eliminate the Blues. So we are not sure that the football world will be too angry about it.
This is the meaning of Charlotte Harpur’s column on the site The Athletics : “A thought for France, the team that everyone wants to see lose in the semi-finals… apart from the French of course. It’s not that the English are bitter after their quarter-final defeat, it’s just that everyone prefers the underdogs. The defending champions are clearly the favourites to reach the final. But how can you, if you are neutral, not support, as Moroccan coach Walid Regragui put it?the Rocky of this World Cup”? »
In Rabat, the Moroccan capital, Opinion is ready : “With the mentality of steel and the tactical system of which Walid Regragui is the master architect, in addition to the unconditional support of the Moroccan and Arab public, we are convinced that we have all the assets to decide the match in our favour.”
And write a page of history. This is the theme developed by the Italian general daily The Stampa – “Before the finish line of history, the long crossing across Africa” – which describes, from the pen of Giulia Zonca, “the winding path since the first point in 1970 against Bulgaria, which will reach its climax today”. For his part, Antonio Barilla mentions regarding the match: “a chapter of history, social, cultural and political […] It is normal that this poster is covered with deep meanings, that we evoke colonialism and the suffering of migration, but behind all that, at the base, there is a rolling ball and a dream to realize.”
On the front page of the Italian sports press, thus overshadowed by Messi, France-Morocco settles for crumbs with each time a photo of Mbappé and one of his opponents of the day. “Ball to Mbappé”title The Sports Gazette. The French star must break through Morocco’s super wall”, an obstacle illustrated by Sofyan Amrabat. For Tuttosportwho chose to pit the Frenchman against Youssef En-Nesyri, ‘Morocco prays, France trembles’. To Sports Corriereit’s classic with the PSG friends duel: “Mbappé tested in Morocco” and thus Achraf Hakimi.
France versus the Moroccan ‘wall’
The same duel in Spain on the front page of Ace and the same spirit: “The champion against a wall”, “France on their way to second consecutive final against Morocco, who conceded only one goal”, “Rocky against Goliath”. For BrandMbappé illustrates today’s poster with Sofyan Amrabat and this choice: “Logical or heroic”, ‘The Roosters want to play the second final in a row, the Moroccans want to become legendary’.
And the French can be wary of themselves, as Antonin Besner reminds Canada RDS : “The danger for the Blues will of course be overconfidence and arrogance. To unlock the Moroccan lock, France can count on two of the most decisive players, Mbappé and Giroud. Faced with a resolutely defensive team, the Blues will also have to be careful at the back, having conceded a goal in each of their five games..
In Belgium, on the RTBFPascal Scimè also invites the Lions of the Atlas to be on their guard: “The Blues may have a difficult match against the Moroccans. The only team that gave Morocco problems at this World Cup was Croatia, a team that has roughly the same characteristics as France. The Moroccans had it easier against more playful teams like Spain and Portugal, who took the ball away from them, but above all took the ball from the top.”.
We also talk about tactics in Argentina, where The nation reminds you that “France and Morocco reached the semi-finals by defying football orthodoxy; for them, possession is a waste of time. […] The Blues’ plan is hardly about the ball. They stand back, let their opponents go first and attack with devastating effect. Morocco, their rivals on Wednesday, do the same, but only because underdogs rarely have many options..
