World Cup 2022: Reasons for Morocco to be confident of beating France

The Atlas Lions became the first African nation to reach the last four after securing a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Walid Regragui's side have already written their name in the history books, but they will hope that their fairy-tale story continues as they bid to take yet another impressive scalp on the biggest international stage.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at three reasons for Morocco to be confident of making it through to the final with victory over France.

Strengths in defence

Morocco are still the only team at the 2022 World Cup who are yet to conceded a goal from an opposing player, with Nayef Aguerd's own goal against Canada the only time their defence has been breached.

The Atlas Lions have kept more clean sheets (four) and conceded the joint-fewest goals (one along with Tunisia) at this year's tournament; the last two nations to record five clean sheets at the same World Cup both went on to lift the trophy (Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010).

Across their five games in Qatar, Morocco have also made more tackles (104) and more clearances (137) than any other team, while just nine of the 45 shots they have faced have been on target (20%), with only Ecuador - who were eliminated in the group stage - having a lower percentage (19%).

A strong defensive quartet of Achraf Hakimi, Aguerd, Romain Saiss and Noussair Mazraoui have provided valuable protection for goalkeeper Yassine Bounou - who is in the running to win this year's Golden Glove award - while Jawad El Yamiq came in for the injured Aguerd against Portugal and seamlessly slotted in at centre-back alongside Saiss to help keep a clean sheet.

Whether Morocco can keep France's formidable attack quiet on Wednesday remains to be seen, but they have already shown their resilience against three nations ranked inside the top nine in the world by FIFA and will be confident of another shutout in Al Khor.

Unbeaten record

Morocco's defensive excellence has been a key aspect behind their impressive 10-game unbeaten run, including seven victories and three draws, with their most recent draw against Spain in the last 16 finishing with success in a penalty shootout.

Ranked 22nd in the world by FIFA, Morocco were one of only five teams at this year's World Cup to advance from the group stage unbeaten, with a goalless draw against 2018 runners-up and fellow 2022 semi-finalists Croatia followed by a statement 2-0 win against Belgium and a 2-1 victory over Canada.

The aforementioned knockout victories against Spain and Portugal have extended Morocco's unbeaten World Cup run to six matches, the longest unbeaten streak by an African nation in the competition's history - a 2-2 group-stage draw with Spain in 2018 began this six-game unbeaten run.

Head coach Regragui is yet to lose as manager of the Atlas Lions since taking charge in August, winning five and drawing three of his eight matches in the dugout and his team have kept seven clean sheets in the process.

Strong spine to Regragui's team

Successful teams tend to have a strong spine and Regragui seems to have one running through his side at this year's World Cup. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has caught the eye in Qatar and his impressive performances between the sticks have allegedly attracted interest from Premier League clubs and Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The 31-year-old Sevilla shot-stopper, who won the 2021-22 La Liga Zamora Trophy, has 50 international caps to his name and he has kept three clean sheets at this year's World Cup, which can only be matched by England's Jordan Pickford to date.

The form of centre-back duo Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss - of West Ham United and Besiktas respectively - has also been key to Morocco's defensive stability. Only Croatia's Josko Gvardiol (32) has made more clearances than Saiss (30), who is hoping to recover in time to face France after being stretchered off in the victory over Portugal, while Aguerd is also set to play after missing Saturday's 1-0 win.

In midfield, Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat and Angers' Azzedine Ounahi have particularly impressed with their all-round game and both have started all five of Morocco's matches so far in Qatar, while Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech, who has one goal and one assist to his name at the World Cup, continues to lead by example and pose a constant threat in the final third.

The man who made the difference against Portugal was Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri and his header saw him become Morocco's all-time leading scorer at the World Cup (three). The 25-year-old, who now has two goals to his name in Qatar after also scoring against Canada, is bidding to become just the fourth African player to score at least three goals in a single World Cup tournament after Roger Milla in 1990 (four), Papa Bouba Diop in 2002 and Asamoah Gyan in 2010 (both three).

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