France

France do just enough to go forward – but will they have more for the final? | Jacob Steinberg

14-Dec-2022 22:31:14 | The Guardian

Deschamps’ side came up with the bare minimum against Morocco, yet Argentina will worry about their ruthlessness

All it took was one little slip. After five minutes Raphaël Varane moved out of defence, scanning for options, and rolled the ball down the inside-right channel, luring Jawad El Yamiq forward, pulling the Morocco defender out of position and kidding him into thinking that he could snuff the danger out.

There was a problem. Clarity arrived quickly, a realisation that something bad was about to happen, a sense of dread falling over Morocco as it became apparent that El Yamiq had made the error of gambling and losing track of Antoine Griezmann.