The two 2018 finalists, France and Croatia, are back in the final four of the 2022 World Cup where, if they want to get revenge, they will have to get rid of the amazing Morocco and Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
The first semi-final on Tuesday will sign, whatever happens, the probable farewell to the World Cup of a football giant: Lionel Messi or Luka Modric.
And a page of football history will also necessarily be written during France-Morocco the next day. The outgoing world champions can qualify for their fourth final in seven editions. With the exception of Germany (five between 1966 and 1990), no one has been so consistent, not even Brazil or Italy.
Opposite, Morocco has already written history by becoming the first African nation to rise to this level. And the Atlas Lions would see themselves going further, hoping that the wear and tear on their bodies and the possible setbacks on injuries to important players will be compensated by the enthusiasm and support of an entire country, of the entire Arab world and from all over Africa.
The phoenix Giroud
This match will have a particular flavor, especially for the French people from Moroccan immigration or for part of the workforce: even if the championships of Spain or Belgium, two previous victims of Morocco, were more represented in the workforce. Moroccan, seven players have played or are currently playing in France, several were born or raised there, such as captain Romain Saïss.
Coach Walid Regragui himself is a child of Corbeil-Essonnes in the Paris suburbs and played in Toulouse, Ajaccio or Grenoble where he arrived just after the departure of Blues striker Olivier Giroud.
Giroud, the eternal phoenix, the man who should not be at the party, then was called up to become Karim Benzema’s replacement, to finally resume his starting position when the Madrid native was injured, before registering Saturday the goal of victory against England… It is his fourth in this World Cup, one less than Kylian Mbappé but as much as Lionel Messi.
The Argentinian is also in search of legend. As Diego Maradona did in his time, he will need to win the supreme title, the only one he lacks.
But he will have to get the best of a Croatia which is remaking the coup of 2018, relying on perfect consistency and a midfield which is perhaps the best in the world with Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) and Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).
Two geniuses for one armchair
If the “Vatreni” lack a real goalscorer, orphans of Mario Mandzukic, their knowledge of the game, ball retention, their iron mind, their goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic in a state of grace and their young prodigy in defense Josko Gvardiol give reason to hope for a revenge against France.
You don’t find the same consistency on the Argentinian side, but the genius of Leo Messi and an audience that will push with their usual passion. Tens of thousands of Argentines follow the exploits of their heroes in Qatar, in search of a third star after those of 1978 and 1986.
Messi will not be the only genius of the game on the field: Modric, the embodiment of elegance, commitment and game intelligence, will be there, determined to offer himself another round in the final, a feat incredible for his country with a population of less than four million. Even if it means making “the Pulga” cry after having brought tears to the Brazilian Neymar in the quarter-finals.
Another giant left the World Cup in tears forever: Cristiano Ronaldo, eliminated by Morocco, and who definitely misses his exit after an exceptional career. For the moment, “CR7”, 37, is without a club after his stormy divorce from Manchester United.