DOHA
\nFrance face World Cup history-makers Morocco in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, with Lionel Messi\u2019s Argentina lying in wait after another dazzling performance from the diminutive magician.
\nThe Copa America champions swept aside 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday to give the seven-time Ballon d\u00b4Or winner the chance to crown his career in style.
\nDefending champions France know victory against surprise package Morocco would leave them just one win away from becoming the first team in 60 years to successfully defend the trophy.
\nDidier Deschamps\u2019 France are heavy favourites to win at the Al Bayt Stadium but face a team that have conceded just once in their extraordinary run to the semi-finals.
\nFrance captain Hugo Lloris is desperate to avoid the whiff of complacency for a team who have become used to competing at the sharp end of tournaments.
\n\u201cWhen a team is capable of beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal, and finish top of their group, it is because they have lots of quality on the field and undoubtedly off it too, in terms of cohesion and team spirit,\u201d Lloris said.
\n\u201cThey will be formidable opponents, and on top of that there will be a hostile atmosphere in the stadium.\u201d
\nDeschamps\u2019 team are closing in on a third World Cup triumph in seven tournaments but will be aware that no team have retained the World Cup since Pele\u2019s Brazil side performed the feat in 1962.
\nThe world champions are unlikely to have it all their own way against a tough Morocco team.
\nThey topped a group containing Croatia and Belgium before beating Spain on penalties and then dumping Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s Portugal out of the tournament.
\nFan factor
\nThe game will have added spice given France was Morocco\u2019s colonial power and more than a million Moroccans live in the country. Their not-so-secret weapon on Wednesday will be the incredible support from fans in the stadium and across the Arab world.
\n\u201cThere is a popular fervour behind them,\u201d said Deschamps. \u201cIt will be very noisy and my players have been warned about that. They know what to expect.\u201d
\nMorocco coach Walid Regragui, who was born near Paris and spent most of his playing career in the French league, believes his team have become the neutral\u2019s favourite.
\nBut he is adamant his side are not just there to make up the numbers.
\n\u201cIf we are happy just to reach the semi-finals and some see that as enough, I don\u2019t agree,\u201d said Regragui.
\n\u201cIf you get to the semi-finals and you are not hungry then there is a problem.\u201d
\n\u201cThe best team in the tournament, Brazil, is already out. We are an ambitious team and we are hungry but I don\u2019t know if that will be enough,\u201d he added.
\nOn Tuesday, Messi converted a penalty in the first half against Croatia to pull level with France hotshot Kylian Mbappe in the leading scorer\u2019s race on five goals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DOHA France face World Cup history-makers Morocco in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, with Lionel Messi\u2019s Argentina lying in wait after another dazzling performance from the diminutive magician. The Copa America champions swept aside 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday to give the seven-time Ballon d\u00b4Or winner the chance to crown his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-301341","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n