Les Bleus looking to defend crown, while Lionel Messi seeks this prized, elusive trophy.
Theo Hernández and Randal Kolo Muani scored as France defeated underdog Morocco, 2-0, in Qatar on Wednesday, sending Les Bleus into the World Cup final against perennial powerhouse Argentina.
Attacking from a sharp angle six yards out, Hernandez scored on an acrobatic volley in the fifth minute at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, giving France the only goal it would need.
France added an insurance tally in the 79th minute, when superstar Kylian Mbappé drew four Moroccan defenders in the box before slipping a pass to Muani who scored from close range.
The Frenchmen, winners of soccer's most coveted trophy in 1998 and 2018, are seeking to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil did in 1958 and 1962.
French manager Didier Deschamps said he's overjoyed for his team and hopes his athletes have been able to relish their time in this tournament.
'"I tell this to my staff and to my players: Take every moment during the day to really appreciate and savor the moment," Deschamps said. "In four days, we're going to play for a world title and we're really going to enjoy it."
And in a sweet moment after Wednesday night's match, Mbappé embraced Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, his good friend and teammate at Paris Saint-Germain. They exchanged shirts, and Mbappé celebrated with French fans wearing Hakimi's No. 2 Morocco shirt.
And on the other side of Sunday's massive match, 35-year-old Argentine legend Lionel Messi and his teammates will seek to capture their nation's first World Cup title since 1986, a tournament best known for Argentina's quarterfinal victory over England, thanks in part to Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal.
Even as one of his sport's greatest players, Messi has long been the unfair target of frustrated fans back home for the national team's failure to win the World Cup.
Argentina won the Copa America last year, with a 1-0 victory over host Brazil in the final but demanding supporters of La Albiceleste won't be satisfied until Messi raises the World Cup.
The title match is set to kick off at 10 a.m. EST Sunday from Lusail Stadium in Al Daayen.
Morroco, which captured the world's imagination as the first African side to ever make the World Cup semifinals, will play for third place Saturday against 2018 runner-up Croatia. That match will be played at Khalifa International Stadium in Ar-Rayyan.
The next World Cup will be in North America in 2026 with the United States, Canada and Mexico serving as hosts.
BIG MOMENTS
5 mins: Hernandez strikes opener from close range
10 mins: Lloris makes fine save to deny Ounahi
18 mins: Giroud slams shot against the post
21 mins: Saiss forced off injured, joining Aguerd on sidelines
44 mins: El Yamik hits overhead kick against the post
79 mins: Kolo Muani scores 44 seconds after coming on
What next at the World Cup?
France will take on Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday, with kick-off at 3pm.
Morocco will face Croatia in the third-place play-off on Saturday, the game kicking off at 3pm.
You can follow both encounters on Sky Sports' digital platforms.
What the managers said:
France boss Didier Deschamps said:
"It's never easy but it's been such a joy. We're going to go after the title on Sunday.
"We're going to enjoy the time. I tell this to my staff and players. Take every moment in the day to really appreciate and savour the moment. In four days we are going to play for a world title.
"You don't lose, you just learn. You need to use those bad moments to achieve the target. The most important thing is to see the stars in people's eyes when you celebrate and win.
"Your whole country is behind you, your friends. I feel very proud, it's a dream come true. I want to win even more trophies."
Morocco's Walid Regragui said:
"The most important thing is to have shown a good face.
"We have shown that football in Morocco exists and that we have great supporters.
"We gave it our best. This loss doesn't take away everything we gave before."
Opta stats
France are the first nation to reach back-to-back World Cup finals since Brazil in 2002, and first European country to do so since Germany in 1990.
France have reached the World Cup final for a fourth time, all since 1998 (1998, 2006, 2018, 2022). This is twice as many as any other nation in this period.
France's Didier Deschamps is only the fourth manager to lead a nation to back-to-back World Cup finals, after Vittorio Pozzo with Italy (1934, 1938), Carlos Bilardo with Argentina (1986, 1990), and Franz Beckenbauer with Germany (1986, 1990).
France have won all seven of their World Cup knockout games since the start of the 2018 tournament. In World Cup history, only Brazil from 1958 to 1970 (nine) have ever had a longer winning run in knockout matches at the finals.
Randal Kolo Muani scored 44 seconds after coming on as a substitute for France - this was the third-quickest goal ever scored by a substitute in a World Cup game, after Ebbe Sand for Denmark v Nigeria in the 1998 round of 16 (26 seconds) and Richard Morales for Uruguay v Senegal in the 2002 group stage (16 seconds).
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