[0762]

Yep!! The big story of this World Cup is about Morocco, a team that has only lost only two of their last 43 matches. The first African team to "break the glass ceiling" and get to a World Cup semi-final for the first time after beating a Portugal team suffering from "stage fright", Ronaldo in tears at the end? I didn't think he was capable of crying in this way!! And their next opponent in that semi-final is France after Deschamps' revamped French team (after all those pre-tourney injuries) still had enough to KO England 2-1 with Olivier Giroud "doing the record goal-scoring biz" (a great bullet header past Pickford after scorning a really easy shot in front of England's goal about 20 secs before the goal) while Harry Kane eventually "choked" v his Tottenham captain, Hugo Lloris. MON DIEU! L'ANGLETERRE EST ELIMINE DE LA COMPETITION - THE TROPHY IS NOT COMING HOME FOR ENGLAND AFTER ALL, and the reason for that was the fact that France were the better side. I can't believe a lotta English fans really believing what Southgate was preaching, pre-match, re being respected as serious contenders to win it?????? For starters, not with players like Henderson and Maguire in the side!! Slow and cumbersome build-ups from midfield and where was that game-changing "dynamic" required to really "grab a match by the scruff of the neck" v quality opponents? Not there and all very predictable. Anyway, onwards to a really intriguing match for the French - a semi-final that France and Deschamps will regard as winnable, but it will not be an easy one either v a Morocco team that is defensively solid (and stuffy with it) plus a big scoring threat up front. Experience of being there before, plus Mbappe's presence on their left flank, may well just be enough to get France "over the line".