It was a job so complete, so completely carried out to the letter, that France’s gamers transformed it to music. “N’Golo Kanté, he’s quick, he’s good, he shut down Leo Messi however everyone knows he’s a cheater,” went the lyrics after their midfielder, detailed to smother Argentina’s No 10 in Kazan four years ago, barely allowed him a sniff. Messi was given little greater than an help for Sergio Agüero’s late comfort; he would end the afternoon gazing at his toes and suspecting a dream had gone up in smoke, whereas France sailed by means of to the quarter-finals and much past.

The reference to deception? Kanté’s teammates had a operating gag, not solely based mostly on fiction as he later admitted, that he cheated at playing cards. However they’ll want a joker of their very own on the World Cup remaining, as a result of their tried and examined recipe for achievement is unavailable.

Alleged corruption information. MEPs vote to make Qatari officers personae non gratae in Brussels.

Listed below are some factoids from Reuters in regards to the third-place playoff.

When: Saturday, December 17, 6pm native (3pm GMT)
The place: Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, Al Rayyan
Odds (after 90 minutes)
Croatia win: 11/8
Morocco win: 2/1
Draw: 5/2

Key stats:

• Morocco turned the primary Arab and African nation to achieve the World Cup semi-finals Earlier than shedding 2-0 to France. Coach Walid Regragui additionally turned the primary Arab supervisor to guide a crew to the knockout rounds.

• The 2 sides had met of their opening Group F match and performed out a goalless draw.

• Croatia, runners-up in 2018, have performed a third-place playoff as soon as earlier than. In 1998 they beat Netherlands 2-1 to complete third in that World Cup.

• Morocco had not conceded a purpose from an opposition participant on the event earlier than their semi-final defeat to defending world champions France.

• The ‘Atlas Lions’ are quick on defenders after shedding Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui to harm of their semi-final defeat.

• Earlier conferences: Croatia and Morocco have met twice earlier than, together with on this event’s group stage. Their solely earlier assembly previous to the World Cup was in 1996 within the semi-final of the King Hassan II Worldwide Cup. The match led to a 2-2 draw earlier than Croatia gained 7-6 on penalties.

Darryl has emailed, drawing consideration to Lionel Messi’s Saudi Arabia deal. Right here’s a bit on that from a couple of months again:

Talking of podcasts, I keep in mind listening to a (non-Guardian) podcast after France gained the Cup in 2018, when somebody (can’t keep in mind who) described Deschamps as ‘an analog coach in a digital world’. It appeared like a ridiculous declare on the time. It sounds much more ludicrous now.

For those who’re on the market and studying this, thriller podcaster, please do e mail me to clarify your self.

For those who missed it – the post-France v Morocco Soccer Day by day podcast is correct right here. Hear!

“A weird query,” emails somebody known as et ok. “Are you able to rank these World Cup performances, from the perfect to the … much less finest. Messi 2022, Mbappe 2018, Forlan 2010, Zidane 2006, Ronaldo fenomeno 2002, Baggio 94, Maradona 1986.”

No I can’t. Comparability is the thief of pleasure, and all that.

Truly I can’t resist one. Maradona 86 is clearly the perfect.

France did certainly endure a sticky spell in that first half in opposition to Poland. Piotr Zielinksi blasted that shot straight at Hugo Lloris as a substitute of choosing his spot and going for one of many corners. It may have been totally different …

Courtesy of Reuters, here’s a take a look at France’s progress by means of the knockout rounds:

LAST 16: FRANCE 3-1 POLAND

After France went by means of a quick tough patch, Giroud opened the scoring to turn out to be France’s all-time prime scorer on 52 targets – transferring one forward of Thierry Henry. Les Bleus sealed it when Mbappé netted a few screamers – thumping the primary shot underneath the bar earlier than firing the second into the far prime nook for his fourth and fifth purpose of the event. Poland decreased the arrears with a stoppage-time Robert Lewandowski penalty.

QUARTER-FINAL: ENGLAND 1-2 FRANCE

France prevailed after a nerve-racking encounter. They went forward because of a 25-metre Aurélien Tchouaméni strike, however cracked early within the second half with Harry Kane changing a penalty after a Tchouaméni foul. Les Bleus gave the impression to be on the ropes at instances, however they soaked up the strain and made their expertise rely when Giroud’s header from Griezmann’s pin-point cross restored the benefit.

Kane had a golden probability to cancel it out with a late penalty, just for the striker’s effort to fly over the bar. “We bought a bit fortunate though we gave away two penalties. We saved our lead with our hearts and our guts,” mentioned Deschamps.

SEMI-FINAL: FRANCE 2-0 MOROCCO
France deserted possession early on, realizing too nicely that Morocco revelled in defending deep and trying to damage their opponents on the break. They went forward on 5 minutes because of Theo Hernández’s high-hooked volley, forcing their opponents to take the initiative. Morocco performed boldly and would have deserved to degree earlier than the break.

However France defended with cool heads as Ubrahima Konaté proved unbeatable at centre-back regardless of being named within the beginning XI on the final minute following Dayot Upamecano’s sickness. Giroud may even have scored earlier than the break however he hit the submit within the seventeenth minute. It was throughout within the 79th minute, nonetheless, when Randal Kolo Muani beat Yassine Bounou from shut vary after some nice Mbappé work within the field, solely 44 seconds after approaching in its place. France will play Argentina, who’re additionally trying to win the World Cup for the third time, in Sunday’s remaining on the Lusail Stadium.

Kylian Mbappé’s tweet from final evening is rocketing in direction of a million likes.

Spectacular social media attain.

Be happy to email me or contact me through Twitter with any World Cup musings.

Thanks Tom and good day everybody.

My opening gambit with reference to final evening’s recreation, and to France’s progress to the ultimate, is as follows: The factor that basically impresses me in regards to the crew underneath Deschamps is their self-discipline in preserving a inflexible form when out of possession. You may see how a lot work they put into this, and the result’s that even when they’re underneath strain, they very hardly ever if ever get fully pulled out of place.

Consequently, there’s arguably nothing ‘fortunate’ in regards to the reality a defender at all times appears to be available to dam a shot or make a clearance. All of it stems from the defensive form. Sure, they’ve performed a good bit of ‘last-ditch’ defending, however their assault is clearly so potent they’re often able to absorbing loads of strain after which inflicting injury on the counter.

Proper, I’m off for a break, and can go away you within the succesful fingers of Luke McLaughlin for some time. Catch you’se later.

I’m minded to declare all GOAT correspondence closed, however You Lot Out There have made a few respectable factors. First up, Kari Tulinius on the bias in direction of attacking gamers in all such discussions:

“The controversy about who’s the best footballer of all time is dominated by the identical type of participant, inventive attackers who rating and create targets. Pelé, Maradona, Cruyff, Ronaldo, Zidane, Messi, Mbappé and the others who characteristic in these discussions are all, certainly, nice, however theirs is similar kind of greatness. Defenders, non-attacking midfielders or certainly goalkeepers hardly ever enter the dialog. N’Golo Kanté and Fabio Cannavaro, to call simply two, regularly did issues that I had as exhausting a time explaining to myself as after I first noticed a roulette. Soccer is a crew recreation, and attacking is barely part of the game. There can’t be a GOAT as a result of nobody can excel at all the pieces. Although the best way Griezmann’s been taking part in, I’d solely be mildly stunned if he scored a hat-trick within the remaining after which saved three penalties as a goalkeeper within the shootout.”

And right here’s Yash Gupta on how the sport performed modified:

“When there’s a comparability for the best of all time, I’d wish to level out the customarily ignored – All of the magical moments Messi has produced, if there was a participant that I’d wager my imaginary farm on, it will be Maradona. Take Messi vs Gvardiol for instance. Gvardiol merely wipes out Messi if that match was performed in 80s. And for as nice Messi is, tackling was only a tiny bit totally different when Maradona performed. One other level for Maradona could be he had his human moments and nonetheless feels a lot nearer to coronary heart though I by no means watched him stay. I used to be born lengthy after he hung up his boots. There’ll by no means be one other Diego Maradona in soccer.”

One of many barely tedious, even dispiriting, points of World Cups is how discuss surrounding its breakout stars so rapidly will get subsumed into chatter about which mega-rich golf equipment will decide them off, and the hearsay mill by no means sleeps. So we’ve bought Manchester United being linked with Portugal’s marvel child Gonçalo Ramos, Leicester being linked with Azzedine Ounahi of Morocco and Angiers, and Actual Madrid sniffing round PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo.

“For all of the discuss of France’s ‘medical ending’ being the distinction final evening,” writes Christopher Gibney, “it’s value reflecting that each of their targets got here from blocked photographs turning into fortunate assists, whereas for Morocco’s quite a few forays into the field the ball tended to interrupt for defenders to clear. We rationalise these leads to hindsight – speaking about expertise, and ‘killer intuition’ being the distinction in tight video games – however personally I feel blind luck performed a a lot larger position final evening. Given how they’ve performed, in Deschamps France appear to be demonstrating the knowledge of that well-known Napoleonic choice for having fortunate generals reasonably than a very good ones.”

And but they maintain getting fortunate. Morocco had loads of forays, England had loads of forays, so for that matter did Denmark and Poland in opposition to France. And but France beat all of them. There’s a psychological side to all this too. France haven’t performed spectacularly on this event, have typically been underneath strain, however have by no means actually seemed rattled.

A spot of English home information now, and Erik ten Hag has mentioned he’d be completely completely happy for Manchester United house owners the Glazers to do one from Outdated Trafford. “My data is that it’s going to solely be good issues as a result of there shall be extra funding doable, which is nice,” mentioned the United supervisor.

Automobile hits and kills boy as followers have a good time France win

Some horrible information from France, through AP:

A automotive within the southern French metropolis of Montpellier “violently hit” and killed a boy as crowds celebrated France’s victory within the World Cup semi-final, in keeping with native regional authorities.

The driving force fled the scene, however the car was discovered close by and police have been investigating what might need triggered the car to strike the kid, Herault authorities mentioned.

Video emerged on Twitter exhibiting a automotive being pushed dangerously close to crowds on the street following the French nationwide crew’s Wednesday evening win over Morocco.

The boy, whose identify was not made public, was rushed to a hospital and died of his accidents. French media mentioned he was 14 years outdated.
French lawmaker Nathalie Oziol expressed her “immense unhappiness ({that a}) sporting occasion ends in absolute tragedy.”

Elsewhere in France, crowds in Paris and different cities erupted in shouts of pleasure as France superior to the World Cup remaining. The shows have been comparatively restrained. Disillusioned Morocco followers mingled with the exuberant supporters of the successful crew, paying tribute to the African nation’s unprecedented achievement.

Within the capital of Belgium. about 100 folks have been detained late Wednesday after soccer followers shot fireworks at police and broken automobiles within the heart of Brussels, police spokesperson Ilse Van de Keere mentioned.

Some extra correspondence: “If ever there was a scoreline 2-0 that didn’t mirror how shut the sport was, it was yesterday,” writes V Krishnamoorthy. “What Morocco lacked was big-game temperament and/or expertise. France was medical within the two probabilities they’d. leaving apart the romanticism hooked up to the underdogs, Morocco was clearly the winner yesterday.”

Yeah there have been simply a few events when their decision-making allow them to down after they bought into France’s penalty space however aside from that their efficiency was crisp and fluent and really simple on the attention, giving the misinform nonsense comparisons in some quarters with the likes of Greece 2004. It’s a little bit of a bugbear of mine that “underdog” groups are assumed to base their success on defensive anti-football, though their types fluctuate as a lot because the “elite” groups do. Morocco did want a bit extra innovative however aside from that they have been one of many savviest tournament-football groups I’ve seen for a lot of a yr.

On to France’s opponents and Kurt Perleberg writes: “I stay within the US & I need to see Argentina win the World Cup Remaining on Sunday in order that Lionel Messi. who’s on the Mount Rushmore of Soccer legends (together with Cristiano Ronaldo Diego Maradona & Pele) can go driving off into the sundown of worldwide soccer & start his previous couple of years on this lovely recreation at David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF in Main League Soccer (MLS).”

Enjoyable with information: Randal Kolo Muani’s purpose in opposition to Morocco final evening means each quantity on the World Cup squad lists, from one to 26, has now featured on the scoresheet, PA Media tells us.

Much more fascinatingly, Saturday’s third-place play-off would be the second in a row contested by groups who’d already met within the group stage – Belgium v England final time, Morocco v Croatia this.

It was energetic in Paris final evening, amongst followers of each groups, as Angelique Chrisafis studies:

Blocking of ESL supported by authorized opinion:

Huzzah! (For now). Again to that authorized wrangle, right here’s the decision:

Uefa and Fifa’s proper to dam new competitions just like the European Tremendous League is appropriate with EU legislation, in keeping with a key authorized opinion printed on Thursday.

The opinion of the Advocate Normal within the case, Athanasios Rantos, was learn out on Thursday morning on the European Court docket of Justice in Luxembourg.

Richard Hirst will get in contact: “Within the Day by day Briefing Daniel Harris discusses whether or not Maradona or Messi is the GOAT, however evaluating throughout eras is definitely inconceivable, notably as a result of it’s topic to the bias in direction of the current, in direction of what now we have seen for ourselves and may clearly keep in mind.

I didn’t see Pele’s first two World Cups, however I did see 1970, and to my thoughts, having mentioned comparability is inconceivable, he’s no doubt the best. That’s subjective, however successful three World Cups isn’t.”

Certainly, although what it takes to win three World Cups has additionally modified. However these debates don’t throw up something that may be clinically confirmed, so let’s simply get pleasure from Messi as we loved Maradona and, for individuals who noticed him, Pelé. Sensible gamers are sensible in several methods, simply as eras fluctuate. There’s no have to rank them, enjoyable although it could be.

Away from the World Cup, one factor to look out for immediately is the authorized opinion on the €uropean $uoer £eague, as PA Media studies:

A authorized opinion because of be given immediately may form the long run route of European soccer.

The European Court docket of Justice’s Advocate Normal within the Tremendous League court docket case is ready to offer his non-binding view on whether or not Uefa and Fifa abused a dominant place underneath EU competitors legislation after they blocked the formation of the Tremendous League in April final yr, and in making an attempt to sanction these concerned.

If Athanasios Rantos’ opinion is that Uefa did abuse its place, and the ultimate ruling of the court docket subsequent yr agrees with him, it opens the door for rival competitors organisers to arrange occasions exterior Uefa’s jurisdiction sooner or later.

Nonetheless, a ruling that backs Uefa’s proper to behave because it did may kill off the specter of breakaway competitions for generations to come back.

The opinion is initially set to be learn out in court docket alongside different judgements and opinions from 8.30am this morning UK time, earlier than a written model is printed in full later within the day. In lots of earlier instances the court docket judges’ remaining ruling has intently mirrored the Advocate Normal’s opinion, so it may present a robust indication of the ultimate end result.

Regardless of the end result, one fears the self-entitled ESL plotters gained’t take no for a solution.

For all of the Messi v Mbappé discuss, PSG aren’t the best-represented membership among the many finalists’ squads – that honour goes to Atlético Madrid, with Actual Betis, Villarreal, Barcelona and Actual Madrid additionally distinguished. A wee pick-me-up for La Liga after a chastening event for Spain.

Some Moroccan response, from their spectacular coach, Walid Regragui, who understandably combined pleasure and disappointment:

“We knew we had achieved one thing nice already and that everybody was happy with us. We’re happy with what now we have performed however felt we may have gone even additional,” he mentioned. “These small particulars are what assist actual champions win and we noticed that tonight. I advised the gamers I used to be happy with them, his majesty is proud, the Moroccan individuals are proud, the entire world is proud. We labored exhausting, we have been trustworthy, and we confirmed the values we needed to indicate.”

And as we’re attending to the stage the place folks begin composing their event XIs, I’d have two, perhaps three, Moroccans in rivalry – Ounahi, Hakimi and notably the tireless Amrabat – you’d love a participant like that at your membership wouldn’t you. Boufal and Ziyech may also be within the reckoning.

Some migrant employee information from Reuters, who report that greater than three dozen Nepali civil society teams have known as on the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, to “cease trying the opposite method” whereas migrant employees are denied compensation after having “suffered abuses in Qatar”, Amnesty Worldwide mentioned.

And a reminder of yesterday’s grim information:

Preamble

Morning everybody. So this still-tainted and still-basically-unjustifiable World Cup has nonetheless thrown up the juiciest of finals after France sealed a second consecutive remaining place with a 2-0 win over Morocco in what, for my cash, was one of many video games of the event, and one whose scoreline didn’t mirror Morocco’s glowing contribution. However France have that air of a crew destined to win even after they’re not doing a lot, and within the reinvented Antoine Griezmann have maybe the perfect participant of those finals. The ultimate is preposterously exhausting to name, with intriguing battles in every single place and positively deserves greater than to be decreased to a face-off between the 2 Qatar-employed superstars spearheading the respective sides’ assaults.

Our writers who have been there have a lot to say about all of it. So right here’s Jacob Steinberg posing the query as as to if France are any cop:

Barney Ronay on that man Griezmann:

David Hytner’s match report:

Right now’s Day by day Briefing:

And you may take heed to Max and the crew chewing it over right here: