France gets past underdog Morocco, advances to World Cup final vs. Argentina

Theo Hernández and Randal Kolo Muani scored as France defeated underdog Morocco, 2-0, in Qatar on Wednesday, sending Les Bleus into the World Cup final against perennial powerhouse Argentina.

Attacking from a sharp angle 6 yards out, Hernandez scored on an acrobatic volley in the fifth minute at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, giving France the only goal it would need.

France added an insurance goal in the 79th minute, when superstar Kylian Mbappé drew four Moroccan defenders toward him in the box before he slipped a pass to Muani, who scored from close range.

The Frenchmen, winners of soccer's most coveted trophy in 1998 and 2018, are seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962.

French manager Didier Deschamps said he's overjoyed for his team and hopes his players have been able to relish their time in the tournament.

'"I tell this to my staff and to my players: Take every moment during the day to really appreciate and savor the moment," Deschamps said. "In four days, we're going to play for a world title, and we're really going to enjoy it."

And in a sweet moment after Wednesday night's match, Mbappé embraced Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, his good friend and teammate at Paris Saint-Germain. They exchanged shirts, and Mbappé celebrated with French fans wearing Hakimi's No. 2 Morocco shirt.

On the other side of Sunday's massive match, 35-year-old Argentine legend Lionel Messi and his teammates will seek to capture their country's first World Cup title since the 1986 tournament, best known for Argentina's quarterfinal victory over England, thanks in part to Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal.

Even as one of his sport's greatest players, Messi has long been the unfair target of frustrated fans back home for the national team's failure to win the World Cup.

Argentina won the Copa America, the South American championship, last year, with a 1-0 victory over host Brazil in the final, but demanding supporters of La Albiceleste — so named for their sky blue and white uniforms — won't be satisfied until Messi raises the World Cup.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

Bookmakers put Sunday's title match at even odds.

The title match is set to kick off at 10 a.m. ET from Lusail Stadium in Al Daayen.

Morocco, which captured the world's imagination as the first African side to ever make the World Cup semifinals, will play for third place Saturday against 2018 runner-up Croatia at Khalifa International Stadium in Ar-Rayyan.

The next World Cup will be in North America in 2026, with the U.S., Canada and Mexico serving as hosts.