PHILADELPHIA — What’s tougher: scoring in sweltering 100-degree heat or against Paraguay? France faced the challenge of both and emerged victorious with a 1-0 win, allowing them to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals against Morocco in Boston. This upcoming match promises to be another intense encounter, reminiscent of their 2022 semifinal clash where France triumphed 2-0, though this match could prove even more combative.
In facing Morocco, France can anticipate a similar challenge to what they encountered against Paraguay, although they won’t have the oppressive heat to contend with in Boston. Morocco’s skilled players won’t adopt the defensive strategy Paraguay employed; instead, they’ll be physical and adept on the ball. France’s victory on Saturday relied heavily on refereeing decisions amid their mounting frustration, and falling into similar traps against Morocco could spell trouble, especially given the possibility of conceding a penalty kick.
“I’ve never played in a match like this, filled with hard hits and shoves. It was challenging, but we secured the win,” remarked French midfielder Kouadio Kone after the match.
France anticipated the physical style of play and the “dark arts” typically associated with such encounters. The referee allowed a very physical game to unfold, which is less common in this World Cup. This match elevated the intensity, revealing that teams are starting to exploit the latitude given for physicality; France expects to be ready if it happens again.
“I believe the referee could have issued more yellow cards to calm things down. We knew they would try to throw us off our game, and the coach prepared us for it. It’s easy to become frustrated, but we maintained our focus, and ultimately we finished with 11 men, despite a few yellows. We fought a tough battle and emerged victorious, 1-0, which means we’re moving forward,” Saliba commented post-game.
Saliba acknowledged that France won the battle, but they are now at a point in the tournament where recovery times for teams have shortened. Thankfully, they avoided extra time, but many players cramped during the heat, presenting new challenges.
Following a lengthy break during the group stage, they now face only five days between matches, contributing to Aurelien Tchouameni’s absence due to injury. Saliba noted that the heat affected player performance, yet his team managed to stay focused, leading to their progression to the quarterfinals.
“It was extremely hot today, making fatigue come quickly. And when you don’t score early, the match can feel dragged out,” Saliba said. “Nonetheless, we stayed focused despite the heat.”
Paraguay had chances, but Julio Enciso fatigued and was subbed in the 61st minute, while Miguel Almirón also had to exit due to a suspected hamstring injury. Morocco possesses Achraf Hakimi, a powerhouse capable of creating opportunities and decisively driving the game, as evidenced in their match against the Netherlands where they displayed physical prowess against Canada.
“They are a very strong team, having defeated top nations in this tournament and most importantly, they are unbeaten,” Saliba acknowledged. “We know it won’t be easy; they defend well and possess substantial individual talent. We need to rest, as we’re exhausted, and then prepare thoroughly for the match.”
Morocco might be without striker Ismael Saibari due to a reported hamstring injury, but they’re not reliant on a single player. Sufiane Rahimi excelled off the bench, scoring for the Atlas Lions as they triumphed with three goals against Canada, becoming the first team to eliminate a host nation in this tournament. As Morocco continues to improve its rankings in every World Cup since 2018, they approach challenges without fear.
While Didier Deschamps’ side wobbled in their first real test of the tournament, they must avoid further slip-ups. Any missteps could jeopardize their journey, especially against a team that can capitalize on their mistakes and threaten their championship aspirations.
