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Morocco really could have done it. From minutes six to 79, between the early thud of Theo Hernandez’s poached volley and the Kylian Mbappe shot that deflected into the path of Randal Kolo Muani, the Atlas Lions gave you all the evidence you would need to believe that on a different day they could have overcome the reigning world champions. And if they had done that – after all they achieved against the luminaries of Europe – what would be stopping them from overcoming the best that South America has? Even in defeat, Morocco proved that their ceiling was lifting the trophy in Doha on Sunday night.
To do so they needed as many fortunate breaks as they could muster. None came their way. The moment when Abderrazak Hamdallah could not scramble the ball beyond Jules Kounde in the 94th minute was this contest writ large. A lack of cutting edge would always have made it hard to cut through the Gordian knot of France’s defense. But on the game’s evidence this great Morocco side would probably have fumbled the sword onto their big toe anyway, such was their surfeit of luck.
It began even before the whistle had blown. Walid Regragui had gambled on the fitness of an XI that had been nicked, clipped and probed at by Spain and Portugal. It did not pay off. Nayef Aguerd was named on the team sheet but the West Ham center back was not fit enough to make the anthems. Romain Saiss hobbled through 20 minutes where he was outpaced by Olivier Giroud. Noussair Mazraoui made it down the tunnel at half-time but he had been a shadow of his best self.
Regragui’s tournament ledger is overladen with impressive tactical tweaks; the 47-year-old had done the hard yards in attending seminars and masterclasses before the World Cup. After it, he will be giving them. But he will not want to draw too much focus to what was the gamble that failed over the fitness of three key defenders. In retrospect, he may conclude that it…
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