DOHA: France set up a World Cup final against Argentina after goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani secured a 2-0 win over Morocco on Wednesday.
Didier Deschamps' side became the first defending champions since Brazil in 1998 to return to the final at the next edition with another efficient performance at Al Bayt Stadium.
Hernandez struck as France raced into a fifth-minute lead against Africa's first World Cup semi-finalists, although Morocco were in the ascendancy for large parts.
That pressure brought no reward, and substitute Kolo Muani's 79th-minute second ensured France's bid to become just the third side to retain their global crown continued into Sunday's final against Argentina.
Hernandez fired France into an early lead after Kylian Mbappe twice saw efforts blocked, the second deflection falling to the left-back to expertly finish at the back post.
Olivier Giroud smashed a left-footed strike against Yassine Bounou's right post before whipping wide from a glorious opportunity after Jawad El Yamiq denied Mbappe with a last-ditch clearance.
El Yamiq almost levelled with a sensational overhead kick from Hakim Ziyech's corner on the stroke of half-time, only to be denied by a stretching Hugo Lloris and his right post.
Raphael Varane produced a vital intervention to thwart Youssef En-Nesyri after the interval as Deschamps' men were pinned back, before France sealed victory with 11 minutes remaining.
A deflected Mbappe strike rolled into the path for Kolo Muani, just off the bench, to tap in at the far post as Morocco's fairytale run came to an end.
What does it mean? Les Bleus on brink of rare feat
France narrowly edged past England in an enthralling quarter-final and were again ruthless against Morocco, recording their fourth straight World Cup semi-final victory (also in 1998, 2006 and 2018).
Walid Regraguis's Morocco had defeated Belgium, Spain and Portugal en route to the last four after resolute defensive performances, but France proved too great a hurdle.
The final test for Les Bleus awaits in the form of Lionel Messi and Argentina as they aim to join Italy (1938) and Brazil (1962) as the only sides to successfully retain their crown.
Heroic Hernandez
Hernandez's opener, timed at four minutes and 39 seconds, was the fastest World Cup semi-final goal since 1958 when Vava struck for Brazil against France.
The Milan defender, scrutinised after the England game and still largely without help from Mbappe, was also tasked with managing the energetic Ziyech and impressed by winning seven of his eight duels and gaining possession from each of his four tackles.
Injuries haunt defiant Morocco
Nayef Aguerd, Roman Saiss and Noussair Mazraoui were all injury doubts heading into this clash. All were initially named in the XI, but Aguerd did not appear, Saiss bowed out before half-time and Mazraoui was replaced at the break.
A fitness gamble by Regragui did not pay off, with Mazraoui winning just one of his six duels before his half-time removal and Saiss' injury almost costing Morocco as Giroud broke away to strike the post in the first half.
What's next?
France will meet Argentina at Lusail Stadium in four days' time, while Morocco face Croatia in a third-place play-off on Saturday at Khalifa International Stadium.
Astro Arena
Wed Dec 14 2022
![France 2-0 Morocco: Hernandez and Kolo Muani send champions through to Argentina final France 2-0 Morocco: Hernandez and Kolo Muani send champions through to Argentina final](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/71671059873_SemiFinal.jpg)
France's Randal Kolo Muani is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the World Cup semifinal between France and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium. - AP Photo/Petr David Josek
![Angka kematian di Gaza meningkat kepada 38,153 Angka kematian di Gaza meningkat kepada 38,153](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719304919_TBisraelairstrike.jpg)
Angka kematian di Gaza meningkat kepada 38,153
Angka kematian rakyat Palestin akibat serangan berterusan Israel di Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 38,153, kata Pihak Berkuasa Kesihatan Gaza dalam satu kenyataan pada Ahad.
Rafah kini dilitupi debu, runtuhan bangunan memenuhi bandar
Dulunya Rafah sibuk dengan urusan seharian penduduk namun kini ia umpama bandar hantu yang diliputi debu, sunyi hampir sepanjang masa.
Kiswah Kaabah ditukar, petanda permulaan Tahun Baharu Hijri
Meneruskan tradisi turun-temurun, penutup baharu untuk Kaabah, dikenali sebagai Kiswah dipasang pada Ahad, menandakan Tahun Baru Hijrah di Mekah, Arab Saudi.
Selepas Sarawak, Pulau Pinang minat anjur bersama - Hannah
Pulau Pinang menjadi negeri terbaharu selepas Sarawak untuk menjadi hos bersama penganjuran temasya Sukan SEA 2027.
Sentimen Islam, perkauman punca kekalahan di Sg Bakap
Isu sentimen agama Islam terancam dan perkauman yang dimanipulasi parti pembangkang dilihat sebagai antara punca utama kekalahan Pakatan Harapan dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil DUN Sungai Bakap pada Sabtu.
KPM pastikan tiada pelajar cemerlang tercicir - Fadhlina
Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) memberi jaminan isu pelajar cemerlang 10A Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) yang belum mendapat tempat untuk melanjutkan pengajian akan diselesaikan.
Heret pelaku ke muka pengadilan
Membahaskan LKAN di Parlimen tanpa mengambil sebarang timdakan susulan daripada hasil penemuan itu tidak akan memperbaiki tatakelola agensi kerajaan.
Nota diplomatik kepada PBB tegaskan kedaulatan Malaysia
Mengesahkan perkara itu, Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan berkata nota diplomatik itu juga turut menjelaskan kedaulatan negara yang merangkumi Sabah dan Sarawak seperti termaktub dalam Perlembagaan.
AWANI Ringkas: Nota diplomatik diserah kepada PBB
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![6 cedera hari pertama festival larian lembu di Sepanyol 6 cedera hari pertama festival larian lembu di Sepanyol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720276393_TBpamplona.jpg)
6 cedera hari pertama festival larian lembu di Sepanyol
Seramai enam orang cedera pada hari pertama acara larian lembu tahun ini di Pamplona, Sepanyol, menurut pegawai perubatan pada Ahad.
![Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 capai kejayaan dalam segenap aspek - Penganjur Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 capai kejayaan dalam segenap aspek - Penganjur](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/41671402327_LionelMessi.jpg)
Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 capai kejayaan dalam segenap aspek - Penganjur
Piala Dunia ke-22 berjaya menghimpukan pelbagai lapisan masyarakat yang berbeza budaya dan agama menyampaikan mesej keamanan melalui sukan.
![Piala Dunia Qatar 2022: Pelanggan Pek Sukan Astro boleh akses sepenuhnya 64 perlawanan Piala Dunia Qatar 2022: Pelanggan Pek Sukan Astro boleh akses sepenuhnya 64 perlawanan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/41662037512_TBASTROQATARFIFA.jpg)
Piala Dunia Qatar 2022: Pelanggan Pek Sukan Astro boleh akses sepenuhnya 64 perlawanan
Demam Piala Dunia FIFA Qatar 2022 semakin terasa apabila 32 pasukan bakal berentap bagi menjulang piala terulung dalam sukan bola sepak.
![Kerajaan setuju RTM runding dapatkan hak penyiaran Piala Dunia 2022 - Annuar Kerajaan setuju RTM runding dapatkan hak penyiaran Piala Dunia 2022 - Annuar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-12/71640252311_TBANNUARMUSA.jpg)
Kerajaan setuju RTM runding dapatkan hak penyiaran Piala Dunia 2022 - Annuar
Keputusan rundingan itu akan diketahui dalam masa terdekat.
![RWC 2019: Rusia kecundang sekali lagi, dibelasah Samoa 9-34 RWC 2019: Rusia kecundang sekali lagi, dibelasah Samoa 9-34](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-09/81569328474_RugbyUnion.jpg)
RWC 2019: Rusia kecundang sekali lagi, dibelasah Samoa 9-34
Rusia mengalami kekalahan kedua dalam kempen Piala Dunia Ragbi 2019 selepas dibelasah Samoa 9-34 dalam perlawanan yang berlangsung di Stadium Ragbi Kumagaya, Jepun.
![RWC 2019: England belasah Tonga 35-3 RWC 2019: England belasah Tonga 35-3](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-09/61569156065_rugbyworldcup.jpg)
RWC 2019: England belasah Tonga 35-3
Pasukan rangking ketiga dunia England berjaya menumpaskan pasukan tangga ke 15 Tonga dengan kemenangan selesa 35 berbalas tiga dalam perlawanan di Sapporo Dome pada petang sabtu.
![Debar sepak mula makin terasa, semangat #webelangtogether kian membara Debar sepak mula makin terasa, semangat #webelangtogether kian membara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-12/81543665334_AFF.jpg)
Debar sepak mula makin terasa, semangat #webelangtogether kian membara
Penyokong Malaysia dan Thailand mula membanjiri Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil bagi menyaksikan pertemuan separuh akhir pertama Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala AFF Suzuki 2018 malam ini.
!['GRO Piala Dunia' dicekup 'GRO Piala Dunia' dicekup](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/61530328946_GROWorldCup.jpg)
'GRO Piala Dunia' dicekup
Bahang saingan bola sepak Piala Dunia yang semakin menghangatkan kini turut digunakan pusat hiburan bagi melariskan perniagaan mereka.
!['Sejarah hitam' Lampard tahun 2010 permulaan detik bersejarah buat bola sepak 'Sejarah hitam' Lampard tahun 2010 permulaan detik bersejarah buat bola sepak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/71530175778_Lampard.jpg)
'Sejarah hitam' Lampard tahun 2010 permulaan detik bersejarah buat bola sepak
Peristiwa berkenaan menjadi kontroversi dalam dunia bola sepak dan juga menjadi detik bersejarah buat FIFA, di mana akhirnya FIFA memutuskan untuk memasukkan teknologi bantuan pengadil.
![Toni Kroos wira kebangkitan Jerman Toni Kroos wira kebangkitan Jerman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/41529791607_ToniKroos.jpg)
Toni Kroos wira kebangkitan Jerman
Toni Kroos menjadi wira Jerman apabila menjaringkan gol kemenangan dalam masa kecederaan untuk mencerahkan peluang pasukannya mara ke pusingan kalah mati.
![De Gea akan bangkit, kata penolong jurulatih Sepanyol De Gea akan bangkit, kata penolong jurulatih Sepanyol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-06/81529325584_DeGea.jpg)
De Gea akan bangkit, kata penolong jurulatih Sepanyol
Carlos Marchena berkata penjaga gol Sepanyol, David de Gea, masih mendapat sokongan daripada rakan sepasukan dan akan bangkit daripada kesilapan yang dilakukan ketika berdepan Portugal.