In the end, it was a triumph of France’s know-how, its ability to manage this type of occasion, to get the job done. Théo Hernandez scored early and Didier Deschamps was able to reflect on a good defensive performance, especially by Ibrahima Konaté, who scored the first clean sheet of this World Cup for his team.
When Kylian Mbappé burst into life inside the box late on, showing brilliant toes and seeing a low shot deflected wide, there was substitute Randal Muani to tap home. Antoine Griezmann has been excellent again and France are on course to defend their title. Sunday’s final against Argentina promises to be epic.
And yet the broad brushstroke details failed to take into account how Morocco made France sweat, how they played with their chests out and no hint of an inferiority complex. The African team, the first from the continent to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, had long since put it behind them in their epic run against Belgium in the group stage, and Spain and Portugal in the round of 16.
Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions mocked European claims that they were too defensive by playing on the front foot, probing and creating chances. It was an occasion to excite his fans here and at home. And when the men in red collapsed on the lawn when it was all over, they did so having left it all out there.
The 200-1 shots at the start of the tournament had only won two draws at this level before. They had created miracles but this would be a step too far, a knockout for the band of brothers that Regragui had compared to Rocky Balboa. As France celebrated, cheers for the defeated team rang out loud.
The atmosphere throbbed from the start. The shrill whistles of the Morocco fans were first heard precisely 90 minutes before kick-off as Deschamps and his assistants wandered off. Hilariously, when the French element of the acclaimed pre-match crowd began to do their thing, it was unceremoniously drowned out. There is a God. And, at that time, there were hardly any Moroccan supporters inside the ground.
The noise when they were all inside, red shirts everywhere, was powerful. This was history, a payoff for the passion and massive investment in Moroccan football by King Mohammed VI and the national federation. Everyone wanted to experience it to the fullest.
What Morocco did not take into account was the concession of the first goal. Regragui had moved into a back five for the first time in the tournament and was broken when Raphaël Varane played a lovely pass down the inside right for Griezmann, which Jawad El Yamiq tried to step up and intercept. It failed.
Randal Muani’s effort from distance seals France’s place in the final. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
Griezmann crossed low for Mbappé and had two efforts blocked. After the second, the ball sat at the far post for Hernandez and his side shot was beautiful. It was only the second goal Morocco had conceded here – after the own goal against Canada – and the first time they had fallen behind.
Nayef Aguerd had been ruled out by Morocco after being named in the starting eleven and a second half, Roman Saïss, who had been a doubt for selection, did not last beyond the 21st minute. He limped off moments after misjudging a ball high and allow Olivier Giroud a run at goal. Giroud hit the outside of the post. Noussair Mazraoui, who was also carrying an injury, would not appear again in the second half.
It was possible to wonder if the physical strain was catching up with Morocco and yet they poured even more energy into the game. Regragui has rearranged the 4-1-4-1 without Saïss but, in both systems, Morocco has maintained a high line and progressed. France was happy to sit back, look for turnovers and transition quickly.
Morocco brought the physical fight, enjoyed plenty of possession and their supporters saw enough to cheer them on before the break.
Especially when El Yamiq curled an overhead kick in stoppage time after Giroud had cleared a corner halfway, sending the ball into the bottom left. Hugo Lloris came close to tip it onto the post. Earlier the goalkeeper had gone the other way to keep away a curler from Azzedine Ounahi.
France should have been 2-0 in the 36th minute. Aurélien Tchouaméni found Mbappé who couldn’t finish, El Yamiq cleared, but only as far as Tchouaméni, who sent a quick pass to Giroud, who was cleared from the penalty spot . He took a first shot at the post, a poor miss.
Morocco did not want the adventure, especially Achraf Hakimi, who was in marauding form down the right, linking to good effect with Hakim Ziyech, who was also dangerous. Hakimi’s battle with Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappé was a prominent subplot, though it wasn’t just him vs. Mbappé. Sofyan Amrabat made a heroic cover challenge against the French winger.
Morocco kept believing as the second half wore on, continuing to force the issue at an astonishing rate. Some of their exchanges in the final third were extremely easy to watch. Substitute Yahia Attiyat Allah failed to connect with a shot opportunity when well placed. He then got in behind Jules Koundé, his cross hacked away by Konaté. Attiyat Allah also almost crossed for substitute Zakaria Aboukhlal.
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It looked as if the tie might come. After French substitute Marcus Thuram missed a header, Morocco went ahead with another of their substitutes, Abderrazak Hamdallah.
Was this the time? No. He tapped but couldn’t find the room to download.
Towards Mbappé to kill the dream. It was Muani who instigated the move after a loose pass from Morocco, but Mbappé turned it on, his shot deflected off substitute Abdessamad Ezzalzouli and smashed home kindly. When Hamdallah had a last-gasp effort cleared off the line by Koundé, Morocco were denied the consolation they deserved.