By Julien Pretot
NEW YORK, July 7 (Reuters) - France's journey in the World Cup has already tested its offensive prowess, patience, and nerves, but the quarterfinal match on Thursday against Morocco will present Didier Deschamps's team with a different challenge: a comprehensive test of their mettle in the tournament. This encounter serves as a rematch of the semifinal from the 2022 World Cup, where France ended Morocco's historic run in Qatar. However, this time, the North African team arrives not as a surprise contender but as a confident and talented squad that has not shied away from expressing its ambition to win the tournament.
France secured its place in the quarterfinals by defeating Paraguay 1-0, a match that demanded more character and patience than fluidity. Paraguay adopted a defensive stance, slowed the pace of the game, and forced France to find a breakthrough against a very compact defensive structure. Deschamps's team did enough to advance, with Kylian Mbappé scoring his seventh goal of the tournament. Yet, the performance also highlighted that the knockout stage is beginning to pose more difficult challenges for a team that has relied on its offensive talent for much of the tournament.
Against Morocco, the challenge will be markedly different. Mohamed Ouahbi's team has demonstrated its ability to withstand pressure, control possession phases, and punish opponents with speed and precision. Their 3-0 victory over Canada in the Round of 16 confirmed the impression of a team that is growing stronger as the tournament progresses, having advanced from the group stage unbeaten.
Morocco had already shown its capabilities in a demanding group, amassing seven points from matches against Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. Their performances have reinforced their firm belief that they are not in the World Cup merely to replicate the excitement of 2022. In contrast, France has yet to face a team that combines technical quality, athletic intensity, and the confidence exhibited by Morocco. Sweden was swept aside in the Round of 16, while Paraguay provided resistance but did not pose the same footballing threat that Morocco is likely to present.
The quarterfinal match should provide the clearest indication of whether France's potent attacking quartet can continue to impose its game in the tournament against opponents capable of exploiting their defensive balance and inflicting damage during transitions. France may not be able to count on midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, who has been troubled by a muscle injury, while Morocco is expected to be without key forward Ismael Saibari.
Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola have made France one of the most dangerous attacking lines in the World Cup, but the organization and confidence of Morocco should offer a more comprehensive view of the team behind the star players.
As reported by es-us.noticias.yahoo.com.
