French national soccer team
Photo credit>   Prensa Latina

By Orlando González Cruz.

Havana, December 14 (RHC)-- France qualified today to the final of the FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar after beating Morocco (2-0) and keeps alive the option of retaining the crown won in Russia 2018.

The game was a duel between the almost perfect defense of the Moroccans (in the fair had allowed only one goal and to cap it all in their own goal) and the copious soccer talent of the French. The Europeans took an early lead with a goal by Theo Hernandez (minute 5), thus breaking the Africans' unbeaten streak, regardless of the fact that their coach Walid Regragui started with five at the back in his initial game plan.

The French had the opportunity to extend the score shortly after through Olivier Giroud, but his shot crashed against the crossbar guarded by Yassine Bounou (Bono). The score was still 0-0 at halftime, although the Africans came close in the final moments with chances to Hugo Lloris' goal.

In the second half, the Atlas lions kept trying to find an equalizer and those with the rooster on their jersey calmly bet on the counterattack. In the end, the discount never came, but the definitive goal did.

The second goal for the French was scored by Randal Kolo Muani (79th minute), who had just entered the field, after an excellent play by Kylian Mbappé, who managed to get a pass through the middle of the Moroccan team.

Morocco had a dream World Cup, becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals and leaving a trail of admiration among lovers of the most universal of sports.

Next Saturday, Croatia and Morocco will face each other for third place, leaving everything ready for Sunday's final between Argentina and France. Both teams will be looking for their third title, in the case of Didier Deschamps' disciples with the possibility of winning it in consecutive World Cups, an achievement only achieved by Italy (1934-1938) and Brazil (1958-1962).