France will take on Argentina in the World Cup showpiece after beating Morocco 2-0 in an absorbing semi-final to end the fairytale run of the north Africans and stay on course for a successful title defence.
Theo Hernandez scored in the fifth minute in a perfect start for the holders, who would have been looking for an early strike to silence the rowdy Moroccan support at the Al Bayt Stadium and dent the confidence of their opponents.
But it still proved a close-run clash as Morocco overcame injury blows and showed no deference to France’s reputation, taking the game to them in a gallant effort that added to the glowing reputation they have earned at the tournament.
France settled the outcome with a second goal 11 minutes from time as substitute Randal Kolo Muani, with his first touch after coming on, tucked in a shot at the back post.
They are now into a fourth World Cup final and can become the first country to successfully defend their title since Brazil 60 years ago.
“There’s emotion, there’s pride, there’s going to be a final step,” coach Didier Deschamps said.
“We’ve been together with the players for a month, it’s never easy, there’s happiness so far.”
For the first goal, Hernandez had to lift his left foot high to connect with a bouncing ball from a tight angle to finish off a sweeping move started by Antoine Griezmann’s run down the right and a cutback pass that Kylian Mbappe initially fluffed.
Mbappe was the creator of the second, dribbling through the Morocco defence before his deflected shot fell kindly for Kolo Muani to net.
Olivier Giroud struck the post and missed from point-blank range in the first half at the end of a barnstorming run from Aurelien Tchouameni.
The midfielder threaded a superb pass to find Mbappe, whose miscued shot was poorly cleared, allowing Giroud a first-time shot which flew wide from close-in.
Morocco were never overawed and had opportunities, with Azzedine Ounahi forcing two good saves from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The north Africans were hit hard by injuries to their key centre-backs. The gamble of naming Nayef Aguerd in the starting line up failed to come off as he hurt his hamstring in the warm-up, while skipper Romain Saiss had to go off after 20 minutes.
Replacement central defender Jawad El Yamiq came closest to an equaliser with a spectacular bicycle kick on the stroke of halftime, with Lloris getting a vital touch as the ball hit the base of the upright.
“We gave the maximum, that’s the most important,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui said.
“We had some injuries, we lost Aguerd in the warm-up, Saiss, Mazraoui at halftime. We paid for the slightest mistake.
“We didn’t get into the game well, we had too much technical waste in the first half, and the second goal kills us, but that doesn’t take away everything we did before.”
France’s victory sets up the tantalising prospect of a decisive clash between Argentina maestro Lionel Messi, at the end of his international career, and France’s emerging superstar Mbappe.
“Playing two World Cup finals in a row is an incredible moment,” goalscorer Hernandez said.
“We did a good job. It was hard, but we are in the final. We will work hard to win.”
Morocco’s exit was tempered by their achievement of becoming the first African country to reach a World Cup semi-final.
They can expect to be hailed as heroes when they return home after Saturday’s third-place play-off against Croatia (2am Sunday AEDT).
