World Cup

[monks data]

World Cup | Semi-Finals

Dec 14, 2022 at 7pm UK

Al Bayt Stadium

France
2 - 0
Morocco

Hernandez (5'), Kolo (79')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Boufal (27')

France vs. Morocco: How do both squads compare ahead of World Cup clash?

By Adepoju Marvellous

Published: December 13 2022 | 18:22

Last updated: December 13 2022 | 21:49

Sports Mole looks at how the squads of France and Morocco compare ahead of Wednesday's World Cup clash between the two sides.

In the second of two 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, France and Morocco will face off against each other at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday.

Looking to become only the third team to win back-to-back world titles, Didier Deschamps's men set out to book their place in this year's final, where Argentina await following their 3-0 win over Croatia.

Les Bleus saw off the threat of England thanks to a 2-1 victory in the sides' last-eight involvement, with goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud getting the job done.

Meanwhile, Youssef En-Nesyri's solitary strike saw Walid Regragui's men make history in their quarter-final tie against Portugal, which ended in a 1-0 win as the Atlas Lions became the first African team to make it through to the penultimate stage of football's biggest tournament.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the squads of France and Morocco weigh up against each other ahead of Wednesday's contest.

FRANCE

France players pose for a team photo in the UEFA Nations League in June 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Kylian Mbappe (£137.8m)

Overall squad value:
£859.1m

Most capped player:
Hugo Lloris (142)

Leading goalscorer:
Olivier Giroud (52)

Total caps:
869

Total goals:
153

Oldest player:
Steve Mandanda (37)

Youngest player:
Eduardo Camavinga (20)

Average age:
26.5

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes)

Defenders: Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Axel Disasi (Monaco), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Manchester United)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (Marseille)

Forwards: Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach)

MOROCCO

Morocco players pose for a team group photo before the match in September 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Achraf Hakimi (£56.3m)

Overall squad value:
£209m

Most capped player:
Romain Saiss (70)

Leading goalscorer:
Hakim Ziyech (19)

Total caps:
601

Total goals:
74

Oldest player:
Munir Mohamedi (33)

Youngest player:
Bilal El Khannous (18)

Average age:
26.2

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Munir (Al-Wehda), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad)

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Romain Saiss (Besiktas), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Achraf Dari (Brest), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid), Yahia Attiat-Allah (Wydad), Badr Benoun (Qatar SC)

Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina), Selim Amallah (Standard Liege), Abdelhamid Sabiri (Sampdoria), Azzedine Ounahi (Angers), Bilel El Khanouss (Genk), Yahya Jabrane (Wydad)

Forwards: Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Sofiane Boufal (Angers), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Abde Ezzalzouli (Osasuna), Anass Zaroury (Burnley), Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers), Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Ittihad), Walid Cheddira (SSC Bari)