At the World Cup in Qatar, France will play underdog Morocco at the Al-Bait Stadium for its second consecutive appearance in the final. The French team can become the first since Brazil 1962 to successfully defend its World Cup title.

The winner will face Argentina in the final on Sunday.

Sam Ashoo is in Doha for Euronews:

“Final preparations are underway for France ahead of the World Cup semi-finals. Coach Didier Deschamps admitted his side had a bit of luck against England, but also that his men know what they are doing.

Kylian Mbappe is hoping to regain the form that has seen him score 5 goals so far. He was a bit subdued against England, but his fellow strikers Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezman were excellent and could play a big role against Morocco.

Morocco are the first Arab and the first African team to reach a semi-final of the competition.

One man who will definitely be out is Walid Chedirra, – he picked up two yellow cards against Portugal. That is why he is suspended. Some people are asking themselves how fit the Moroccan team actually is now. But win or lose, the Moroccans have been one of the talking points of this 2022 FIFA World Cup, doing themselves and their continent proud.

As for France, the team currently coaching right behind me, the French hope to be the first team since 1962 to retain the trophy. “

France mobilise 10,000 police for semi-final against Morocco

France is mobilising 10,000 police officers for the World Cup semi-final against Morocco this Wednesday. Half of them will be deployed in the greater Paris area, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Tuesday. The Champs-Élysée boulevard, where thousands of fans had already celebrated the progress of both teams, was to be freely accessible.

Basically, the aim is for everyone to be able to celebrate, he explained. The main focus of the police is on security, also in view of the terrorist threat, and the onset of winter in many parts of the country. There could be restrictions on access from the city motorway to the city centre in Paris. In the same way, the police are working with the transport companies to ensure that crowds in the capital are channelled, for example by closing individual bus stops.