Mayes Yousef
Reigning World Cup champions France play this year’s underdog Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium, tonight.
No matter the outcome of the match, history will be made later tonight as Morocco are the first Arab/Africa team to reach this stage of the tournament.
Morocco’s place in the semifinal is not by chance, a team does not get to this stage of the tournament by chance, it comes down to their sheer grit and hard work.
This is the two nations’ first meeting at a World Cup, however, France hold a 3-1 head-to-head edge over Morocco in five meetings, with their last meeting in 2007 ending in a 2-2 draw.
Paris Saint-Germain stars and friends Mbappe and Hakimi will become rivals tonight. They stand shoulder to shoulder when facing the best teams in Europe, playing week-in, week-out as teammates in the lineup of PSG. They hang out off the pitch and they have even gone on holiday together.
It is a face-off being enjoyed by football fans all around the world. Both men are fast. Really fast. Mbappe was clocked reaching 35.6km/h (22.1mph) during this season’s UEFA Champions League. Hakimi also hit 35km/h.
It is not just about speed, though. According to the number crunchers, Hakimi completes more passes (an average of 91 in a 90-minute game, compared with Mbappe’s 84) and wins more challenges (53 per 90 for Hakimi, just 32 for Mbappe).
But Mbappe scores many more goals.
This will not be either team’s last match of the tournament, as the loser plays Croatia on Saturday, December 16.
Kick-off is at 10pm Doha time.
France line-up: Lloris; Koundé, Varane, Konaté, Théo Hernandez; Tchouaméni, Fofana; Dembélé, Griezmann, Mbappé; Giroud
Morocco line-up: Bono; Hakimi, El Yamiq, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Ounahi; Ziyech, En Nesyri, Boufal