World Cup: Second Semi-Final

No sentiment from me, I will be gunning for Morocco.

I think someone returning to work had covid so I'm planning to skive off for this one. Morocco for me as well.

Love to see a Argentina v France final.

I would love to know just how many times our wonderful TV pundits have said "running in behind" in one context or another about the players.

Don't you just love the exhausting over analysis telling us all exactly what we already know and repeating it incessantly lest we missed it first time (and second, third, fourth…).

C'mon Morocco.

It's Morocco's night.

Just looking at that VAR suite shown then - how could they possibly get it "Wrong" so often?

It'd be a fairy tale result if Morocco could get to the final and I hope they do, but personally I think they are going to get hammered tonight.

Poo.

Why didn't the goalie go at the ball rather than stand back and wait for him to hit it?

Poor goalkeeping by the Moroccan goalie. He should have been charging right at Hernandez there to close the shot right down, instead of doing an impression of a star jump.

Whatever team has the best chance to beat that shit Messi and his mates will do for me.

Michael @9.

He's been studying Jordan doing his starjumps.

Gotta hand it to Morocco, such a competitive spirit.

The officials have let a lot go already. Makes for a decent game.

Yikes! He really belted that!!!

Every time they show that goal, I find the defender looks more and more ridiculous!

Danny Murphy must be the crappest summarizer that ever stepped into a commentary box in the entire history of football.

That would've been something...

Peter @17.

Possibly but there are several running close in behind… 😁

Morocco epitomise a team full of average players working hard for each other. The movement, energy and simple passing is a joy to watch.

It's a lesson for a club like Everton to take onboard some of these characteristics in doing the basics.

Morocco having desperate luck with injuries.

But they're still in there swinging.

Neil, you're right. There's a big field in that race, a whole Grand National of them but my money is on Murphy for the big prize.

Schmeichel on the radio would be close if anyone could keep awake long enough. I nearly fell asleep whilst driving listening to him.

I always expect a lot more from Mbappé than he produces, he seems to be aloof in this game as he was versus England. He never goes looking for the ball and it's not as though he is defending anywhere further than the halfway line.

I know how talented he is and how he explodes into action but not in these last two vital games. Maybe he will come alive in the second half or is saving himself for the final — if they get there.

This is tremendous stuff! Slick moves by Morrocco, incredible run by Mbappe, fantastic challenge!

OMG -- how did they not score then!

This referee is awful. He has missed so much especially from the Morrocan hatchet men. I cannot see France holding on.

Morocco are absolutely magnificent. The quality of their movement and defensive organisation is outstanding.

Kunai, what you mention is the basis underpinning everything in football as a starting point.

It's also the biggest missing element through all Everton teams in recent years, of different players and many managers.

It's that thing in the fabric again.

Er... should Mbappé be more protected? Or is he going down a bit too easily?

STUPID flag rule.

When are the FIfa morons going to change that offside rule back to normal ??

Morocco playing great.

Can someone explain to me how they're finding 8 to 10 minutes added for like every game in this World Cup? Weird.

This is a good game. I predict 20 minutes added time. 😂

You have to play with passion.
You have to be determined.
You have to run into space.
You have to play the ball forward.
You have to work hard for every ball.

Morocco are doing all of this.

Are you fucken watching this, Frank???

This is how we want to see Everton play!!!

The French underwear model is off. Not sure I'd do that!

Giroud is a vastly underrated striker. If Morocco ties and France need a goal? I'd want him out there.

Boufal off?

Michael,

I think a lot of these players just play their heart out for their country, and then look at club footy as the payday and go at 75% or so.

Shame really.

Will, what I notice is that the Moroccan players move and want the ball. With Everton players, they move away and as far as possible from the ball.

Kunai, Everton train with an exploding football.

Didn't we try to sign Giroud many managers ago?

Yes, Peter. His wife said she didn't fancy living on Merseyside, allegedly.

Peter, mentioned in Koeman's time I think. Giroud or his wife didn't fancy Merseyside, it was speculated.

Kunai - snap!

Ahh fucksake hit it!!

The commitment to get that proverbial second ball from Morocco is Herculean.

Hope they haven't blown themselves out... not long left now.

You don't deserve anything in life, you work for it.

From what I've seen, Morocco has worked so hard, they actually deserve this game.

She could have lived in Cheshire and never gone anywhere near Merseyside.

I am amazed how many players on both sides have coughed up possession so easily in vital areas.

15 minutes to go and one of those mistakes could be punished big time.

I feel like Morocco need to win in 90 minutes. If they equalize and it goes to extra time, they'll be worn out with their injuries etc.

Also, be nice if France won given that Qatar bribed Platini to get the World Cup, and basically bribed Sarkozy with investment to get it.

Like Saudi Arabia paying Messi €25 million just before the World Cup to do promotion work for Saudi Arabia. Just very nice for all concerned that they got some kind of completely unexpected upside to their investment.

2-0

Peter - the smell of cow shit though.

Aw fuck. That Mbappe is something else man.

What a goal. The willingness to find something out of nothing, hold the ball until something opens up. Fantastic.

Oh well...

The battle of the invaders: France 1066 v Argentina 1982.

WEF globalist fake PM pretending to care about football.

Will, hahaha.

Mbappe makes that even though not the purist or most intended assist.

More of a professional rather than classic performance by the French.

Morocco can hold their head high.

Griezmann is a great player. Although renowned for his forward play, proving to be a decent holding midfielder bordering on sweeper tonight.

Kolo Muani: free transfer from Nantes to astute buyers Frankfurt this summer. Linked to us quite often over the past few years. Now secured a World Cup final spot for France after 15 goal contributions in 14 games in the Bundesliga.

We buy too many players from Premier League clubs.

Morocco have done well but a more capable referee would have had them down to ten men by now.

The two finalists are the strongest teams and the French have the strength in depth.

Mbappe has had a few knocks in this game and that may tell on Sunday.

The Argies can dish out the rough stuff and that may be the key to them winning.

Has there ever been a father/son duo who have played in World Cup Finals before like the Thurams are about to?

I know Paolo Maldini did and his Dad played in a World Cup but not a final. Obviously brothers we've had the Charltons, but any other father/son?

It's fragrant cow shit in Cheshire.

I hope Iwobi is inspired by Griezmann's defensive anticipation. And I hope Will finds another word for the target of his enmity.

France have mastered the art of winning games their opponents have deserved to win.

Quite possibly the greatest quality a team can possess.

It's been an incredible performance by Morocco. If nothing else, the days of African football teams making up the numbers are well and truly over.

Man of the Match: Referee

A very well-coached team playing with honest endeavour, but unfortunately for them, an equally well-coached team, with superior footballers.

I've loved watching the Moroccan right back, but how good has Griezmann been once again? So much knowledge and understanding, he's made the game look very, very easy tonight.

Peter, to the discerning, it is.

Can cow shit actually be "fragrant"?

Should I visit Cheshire someday to answer this question?

Serious question. Do you get a medal if you finish 3rd in the World Cup?

If I was Morrocco and came this far, I'd want that fucking medal come Saturday. I'd play my heart out again to get it.

Dale, you're always quick to parade your gullibility at every mention of anything that may rock your world. I wouldn't expect anything else.

Look at the world around you and see what's happening. Ever wonder what causes it all?

Thought not.

A valiant attempt, they can be very proud of that.

Dave @ 63 - very true.

Jamie, not specifically but if you're ever there, don't miss it.

So my prediction at about 5 past 7 didn't age well.
It's little consolation but I don't think England would have beaten that Morocco team.

Some of it smells of lavender.

Kim, join the club. I also thought (hoped) it was Morocco's night.

Jamie @69,

It's called the World Cup UnFinal: Croatia v Morocco, Satdee morning for you Yanks.

Definitely Dave @63.

This French team is reminding me of German teams of the past. Forget 2014, but those functional ones, almost purpose-built to win tournaments. Do enough, do the job and step up a gear when they need to. Almost functional.

A very organised and strong team the French. Difficult to beat, but have enough in the locker when they decided to go forward. They know how to win games.

Danny, they defended very well but they absolutely had to. They also had some "running" with the ball in those chaotic pinball situations in their box.

The World Cup 3rd place match has historically been an atrocity against football but something tells me the Moroccans will make it interesting.

France have mastered how to attack and defend as a unit seemingly with little effort.

Too athletic and pacey for Messi, his little cameos won't be enough and Argentine frustration will see them down to 10 men by half-time and a loss by 2 clear goals.

That's a bold one, Barry...

Both Shearer and Ferdinand referred to Deschamps "Water carrier" Label on tonight's program.

Useless fucker won't listen to anybody. He seems hellbent on enjoying one of the greatest all round careers in the history of the game.

Ounahi and Amrabat were outstanding for Morocco in this World Cup; if they had a striker, they would probably have made the final, but a France v Argentina final is one I'm looking forward to.

I'm looking forward to a France v Argentina final. Mbappe and Griezmann but also the maestro Messi alongside the young apprentice Alvarez on the Argentinian side. All fine players.

On a totally random side note, I'm a Newsnight geek. Interesting report tonight on Knowsley. Close to home and including areas such as Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby, which I consider Liverpool anyway in the broader context of the city region and ignoring imaginary boundaries. It's like saying Bootle isn't in Liverpool.

But I didn't realise that out of the 317 English council areas, it's the 2nd most deprived area in the country.

Apologies, off-topic, but an interesting report.

Lloris has been fantastic in this tournament. I know it's usual to criticize goalies – especially any playing for Spurs and or France – but to me he's been one of and maybe the stand-out player of the tournament.

People often talk about teams having lots of possession and shots not deserving to lose (eg, England and Morocco) but Lloris didn't deserve to lose either of those games.

Barry,

I hope so. What's he had like 4 dodgy penalties to help him along? Half his team should have been red-carded v The Netherlands.

If, and it's a big 'IF', given the history of FIFA and Qatar, that it's not fixed as his former Barcelona teammate Pepe among others has claimed, then France should win.

People love this romantic idea of Messi completing his trophy collection but let's be real – he is 35 and past his best. He and his mates choked in 2014 and 2018 – not to mention two Copa America finals v Chile.

They had their time and chance and failed. If they legitimately roll back the years and beat France, then okay… but if it's ANOTHER dodgy penalty and up walks Messi again like Hulk Hogan in a WWE All-Stars retirement send-off,then we know it's another fix.

I've just watched the news footage. That first French goal looks better every time I watch it. Great technique and great adjustment.

I second the comments on Lloris. Great save last night and also played very well against England.

Keepers don't always get the praise they deserve and comments on them are usually reserved for criticism when, as last man standing, they take the brunt of the failure of the team in front of them most of the time.

Knowsley sure would have benefited if Everton and Tesco and a couple of silent billionaires had got their way, Danny, but I'm not sure it would have benefited Everton Football Club, in the longer term though.

‘It was improving our footfall' was another absolute cracker. Some of the shite uttered by Kenwright and his aides down the years genuinely couldn't be made up.