France and Morocco meet at a World Cup for the first time after reaching the semi-finals of Qatar 2022. So, what is their head-to-head record having not played one other since 2007?
Well, it is bad news for the Atlas Lions, who will need to cause yet another upset to qualify for the final. Walid Regragui’s side have already stunned Belgium, Spain and Portugal over the earlier rounds to become the first African nation to reach the final four at a World Cup.
France have never lost to Morocco across seven previous meetings with five wins and two draws. The Atlas Lions held Les Bleus to draws in 1987 and in their last match in 2007. Les Bleus recorded wins against the North African nation in 1975, 1988, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
France are unbeaten in their head-to-head record with 2022 World Cup rival Morocco
Qatar 2022 will now see France and Morocco add a World Cup game to their head-to-head record. The two have previously played two friendlies, two matches at the Mediterranean Games, two ties at the Hassan II Trophy and one fixture at the Four Nations Tournament.
They last met in 2007 in a friendly at the Stade de France in which Youssef Mokhtari scored an 85th-minute equaliser for Morocco. The Atlas Lions had taken the lead on eight minutes through Tarik Sektioui. But Sidney Govou (15’) and Samir Nasri (76’) would net in a 2-2 tie.
France, meanwhile, took their fifth and most recent win against Morocco during the 2000 Hassan II Trophy. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) organised an invite-only friendly tournament back in 1996, 1998 and 2000 ahead of upcoming major competitions.
What is the Hassan II Trophy and how many times did France win it?
The FRMF invited France to the Hassan II Trophy in 1998 and 2000 ahead of the respective World Cup and European Championships. Les Bleus won the title and beat the Atlas Lions on both occasions. France also went on to win the World Cup title in 1998 and Euro 2000.
Morocco finished second at the 2000 edition of the Hassan II Trophy and third in 1996 to Croatia and the Czech Republic. The FRMF targeted its tournament as a warm-up act for a major competition. England and Belgium also featured at the second edition during 1998.
France beat Morocco 6-5 on penalties at the 1998 edition after a 2-2 draw, in which 2022 boss Didier Deschamps featured. The Bleus coach also featured in 2000 as France claimed a 5-1 win. Likewise, he started as France edged Morocco 1-0 in a friendly in January 1999.
Morocco’s head-to-head record with France also features one defeat on penalties at the 1975 Mediterranean Games and a 0-0 draw during the 1987 edition. The Atlas Lions also lost 2-1 to Les Bleus at the 1988 Four Nations Tournament after Abdel Lemriss’ own goal.
France and Morocco to add a World Cup tie to their head-to-head record in 2022
France and Morocco are now set to add a World Cup game to their head-to-head record at Qatar 2022. They meet at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday, December 14 in the semi-finals. The winner will go on to feature in the final at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on December 18.
Morocco became the first African nation to make the semi-finals of the FIFA tournament by eliminating Spain and Portugal. The Atlas Lions dumped La Roja out on penalties in the last 16. They then edged the Selecao 1-0 in the quarter-finals through Youssef En-Nesyri’s goal.
France, meanwhile, are attempting to defend their World Cup title from Russia 2018 under Deschamps at Qatar 2022. They have also eliminated Poland and England in the Round of 16 and quarter-finals. Olivier Giroud scored to hand France a 2-1 win over the Three Lions.
So, ahead of their 2022 World Cup semi-final, HITC Football has looked at the last France XI to face Morocco as they wrote a 2-2 draw in their head-to-head record in November 2007.
Mickael Landreau (GK): The France ace denied Morocco a first head-to-head win
Mickael Landreau conceded twice as France and Morocco last met in 2007 to add a second draw to their head-to-head record. But the goalkeeper did enough to deny the Atlas Lions a first win. The stopper only represented Les Bleus in 11 fixtures between 2001 and 2014.
Francois Clerc (RB): Raymond Domenech seldom trusted the defender for France
Raymond Domenech awarded Francois Clerc his France debut in October 2006. But the 39-year-old only earned 13 caps for his country and each came under Domenech. His final cap came in June 2008 during Les Bleus’ miserable Euro 2008 with two defeats and one draw.
Lillian Thuram (CB): Captained France in their 2-2 draw with Morocco in 2007
Hugo Lloris overtook Lillian Thuram as France’s most-capped player so far at Qatar 2022 on 143 to the defender’s 142. The goalkeeper earned his most recent cap in the quarter-finals against England. Thuram, meanwhile, earned his final cap for Les Bleus during Euro 2008.
William Gallas (CB): France bid farewell to the defender after the 2010 World Cup
France bid farewell to William Gallas and his international career after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He started all three of their fixtures but failed to help Les Bleus claim a win. He also started each of their games at Germany 2006 en route to them losing in the final to Italy.
Patrice Evra (LB): The Man Utd hero captained France at the 2010 World Cup
Patrice Evra enjoyed a decorated career with five Premier League titles and the Champions League at Manchester United. The left-back also captained France at the 2010 World Cup during his 81-cap career. He made his debut in 2004 and remained a key player until 2016.
Claude Makelele (CDM): The iconic midfielder never scored for France
Claude Makelele made 71 appearances for France from 1995 to 2008 but never scored for his country. The holding midfielder also only offered three assists. But one of the goals he created came against Ukraine in the match immediately following facing Morocco in 2007.
Lassana Diarra (CDM): Morocco met France during his tough time at Arsenal
Lassana Diarra enjoyed 34 caps for his nation, including France’s 2-2 friendly with Morocco in 2007. But Les Bleus’ friendly with the Atlas Lions came amid his tough time with Arsenal. He left Chelsea for the Gunners in August 2007 yet left in January 2008 after just 12 games.
Sidney Govou (RW): He helped France avoid a first defeat to Morocco in 2007
Govou helped France avoid a fist defeat to Morocco in their head-to-head record in 2007. The winger met Nasri’s pass to pull Les Bleus level on 15 minutes following Sektioui’s early goal. It was one of just 10 goals the winger scored for France in 49 caps from 2002 to 2010.
Samir Nasri (CAM): Morocco conceded a rare goal by the France midfielder
Nasri enjoyed 41 caps for France from 2007 to 2013 but rarely posed a goal threat. He only hit home five and created a further five goals across all competitions. The former Arsenal, Manchester City and West Ham maestro also struck one of each against Morocco in 2007.
Jerome Rothen (LW): His final cap came in France and Morocco’s last match
The most recent tie in France and Morocco’s head-to-head record before the 2022 World Cup was also Jerome Rothen’s last cap. The winger earned 13 appearances for his country between 2003 and 2007. But he only started in six and hit one goal and laid on two assists.
Karim Benzema (ST): His injury threatened to destroy France’s 2022 World Cup
Karim Benzema started when France faced Morocco in 2007 but he cannot help them add a win to their head-to-head record at the 2022 World Cup. His thigh injury threatened to derail Les Bleus’ campaign after it ruled the 97-cap striker out before they even travelled to Qatar.
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