France vs Morocco: Watch Theo Hernandez Stunning Goal Against Morocco

It took Theo Hernandez just five minutes to open the scoring after a goalmouth scramble. This is the first time Morocco have been trailing at the World Cup in Qatar.

France leads Morocco 1-0 in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and are on course to meet Argentina in Sunday’s final.

The build-up to the goal

Griezmann gets free down the right wing and crosses for Mbappe, whose shot is blocked. The ball falls to Hernandez all alone at the other post, and he does well to finish a bouncing ball past the goalkeeper and a defender on the line.

Morocco are trailing for the first time in this tournament, having conceded a goal scored by an opponent for the first time.

Although it seems unfair given the way things have gone, it remains difficult to explain the potential tactical shape of tonight’s game in any way other than saying France will have most of the ball and look to break down Morocco’s (not low) defensive unit, while having to be uber-wary of the potential counter-attacks that fire like guided missiles at any given moment.

That is no slight on Morocco, who have perfected the art of defending away from their own goal and in such a manner that it allows them to harness the strengths of their squad and make precise, incisive moments in attack that have threatened and killed off some of the strongest teams at the tournament.

The key battle in tonight’s game is, on paper, Kylian Mbappé against his good friend, Achraf Hakimi. France’s wing wizard has reached a top speed at this World Cup of 35.3km/h, the exact same as his PSG teammate.

Mbappé also has the second-highest number of attempted take-ons in the tournament, and Hakimi has the highest number of tackles and successful defensive duels.

Mbappe has scored 5 goals, sitting alongside Messi at the top of the goal-scorers Christmas tree but is way ahead of his potential final rival with 49 touches in the opposition box compared to the Argentinian, who has 37.

If Hakimi can slow him down, then that is one job well done, but it is not the end of the story.

France have a plethora of attacking options at their disposal: if Mbappé doesn’t get you, then Dembélé might, as well as Giroud. Griezmann has been reborn in the middle of midfield alongside Tchouaméni, who opened the scoring against England in the quarter-final.

Morocco have it all to do, and many have written them off. But the Al Bayt stadium may feel like a home ground for the African side this evening, and the fans might be the ones who push their depleted squad over the line.

France Line up: Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Konate, Theo Hernandez, Tchouameni, Fofana, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud.

Morocco Line up: Bounou, Hakimi, El Yamiq, Dari, Saiss, Mazraoui, Ziyech, Ounahi, Amrabat, Boufal, En-Nesyri.

WatchTheo Hernandez  goal below: