Post by Ibadan Watch (@Ibadanwatch)
France v Morocco rematch as World Cup quarter-finals get under way.
France begin their final push towards a third World Cup crown on Thursday when they take on Morocco in a blockbuster showdown as a star-studded quarter-final line-up kicks off.
After a month of scintillating action that has dispelled pre-tournament anxieties over sky-high ticket prices & geopolitics, the biggest, boldest and most logistically complex World Cup ever staged has been whittled down to eight teams.
France, who have emerged as the outstanding team of the tournament after a series of dazzling attacking displays, face arguably their toughest test so far in the shape of African champions Morocco at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston.
Les Bleus have surged into the last eight in style, scoring 14 goals in 5 games — seven of them from in-form captain Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe is one of 4 star strikers who are leading the chase for the World Cup’s Golden Boot as the tournament enters the home stretch.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi tops the scoring chart with eight, Mbappe & Norway’s Erling Haaland have seven each & England’s Harry Kane has six.
Thursday’s opening quarter-final is a repeat of the 2022 WC semi-final in Qatar, won 2-0 by France, who would go on to lose in the final against Argentina.
Morocco has looked impressive en route to the last 8, advancing from the group, beating the Netherlands in the last 32, & Canada in the round of 16. The Atlas Lions will challenge France with a mix of skill, strength & tactics under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco to a shock win in the under-20 WC last year.
The winner will face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals. Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 to reach the last eight & will aim to outmaneuver Belgium, who started slowly but beat New Zealand 5-1, then Senegal 3-2 after trailing 2-0 & lastly the United States 4-1.
On the other side of the draw, holders Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after staggering into the quarter-finals.
The South Americans, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962, were given an almighty scare by Cape Verde in the last 32 before winning 3-2 in extra-time.
On Tuesday, Messi inspired an incredible Houdini act in a jaw-dropping 3-2 defeat of Egypt in Atlanta, when the reigning champions recovered from 2-0 down with 11 minutes of normal time remaining to snatch victory.
Messi was reduced to tears of relief after that roller coaster victory.
“We wanted to stay in the tournament,” the Argentina captain said afterwards.
“We didn’t want today to be the end, we didn’t want to go home.”
The winner of Argentina-Switzerland will face either Norway or England in the semi-finals in Atlanta next week.
England advanced to the last 8 on Sunday with a pulsating 3-2 defeat of Mexico in the Azteca Stadium, winning an extraordinary, drama-filled contest which has given the 3 Lions renewed belief in their bid to win a first major title since 1966.
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