World Cup 2022: France vs. Morocco head-to-head record

Having lifted the trophy in Russia four years ago, Didier Deschamps's men continue their quest to become just the third nation to lift back-to-back World Cup titles, joining Brazil and Italy.

A rare penalty miss from Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane helped France overcome a late comeback scare as they secured a narrow 2-1 victory over England when the sides met in last Saturday's quarter-final clash.

A neatly-struck effort from Aurelien Tchouameni and a trademark header from Olivier Giroud either side of Kane's 54th-minute penalty put Les Bleus on their way to a place in the last four before Kane blasted his second spot kick into row Z with six minutes left in the game to dash England's hopes of bringing football home.

Prior to that, France claimed a comfortable 3-1 victory over a Robert Lewandowski-led Poland side in the round of 16 on December 4 after securing top spot in Group D with six points from their group-stage outings.

Meanwhile, high-flying Morocco continue their record-breaking World Cup run as they became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals following last Saturday's 1-0 victory over Portugal.

After Youssef En-Nesyri jumped highest to head home the opener in the 43rd minute, the Atlas Lions' notoriously dogged defence prevailed against another European powerhouse as they repelled wave after wave of the Selecao attack to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Prior to that, Morocco enjoyed an unbeaten group-stage campaign where they became the first African side to secure a first-placed finish in the group stages of the World Cup.

Drawn in Group F alongside Canada, Belgium and 2018 beaten finalists Croatia, Walid Regragui's men picked up seven points from a possible nine to secure a place in the round of 16 where they edged out Spain on penalties.

The 2010 world champion failed to find a way through the water-tight Morocco defence, before losing on penalties where Sevilla goalkeeper Bono made two saves to inspire the North Africans to a 3-0 victory.

While Morocco are now 180 minutes from glory and a win away from reaching their first-ever World Cup final, standing in their way is a France side who are unbeaten in each of their previous seven encounters.

Both nations first squared off in the Mediterranean Games back in September 1975, when Les Bleus secured a 3-1 victory on penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal time at the Stade du 5 Juillet.

Since then, the two-time world champions have picked up four more victories over the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations winners, including wins at the 1998 and 2000 editions of the King Hassan II Cup.

Wednesday's matchup will be the first-ever encounter between France and Morocco at a major international tournament, though they have locked horns in friendly fixtures on two occasions.

Their first friendly encounter came at the Orange Velodrome in January 199 when Deschamps's side secured a 1-0 victory courtesy of a 47th-minute strike from Youri Djorkaeff.

The second and also most recent meeting between France and Morocco, came in November 2007, when the spoils were shared in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Stade de France.

FRANCE VS. MOROCCO HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

France wins: 5

Morocco wins: 2

Draws: 0

France goals: 13

Morocco goals: 7

MATCH HISTORY

September 4, 1975: France 1-1 Morocco (Mediterranean Games)

September 17, 1987: France 0-0 Morocco (Mediterranean Games)

February 5, 1988: France 2-1 Morocco (Four Nations Tournament)

May 29, 1998: France 2-2 Morocco (King Hassan II Cup)

January 20, 1999: France 1-0 Morocco (International Friendly)

June 6, 2000: France 5-1 Morocco (King Hassan II Cup)

November 16, 2007: France 2-2 Morocco (International Friendly)

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