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2022 World Cup: France vs Morocco preview: team news, kick-off time, probable lineups, tactics & key stats

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France will take on Morocco in the semifinals of the World Cup on Tuesday night and they will be hoping to book their place in their second successive World Cup final with a win.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup champions will certainly be the favourites heading into the contest and it remains to be seen whether they can grind out a positive result here.

France managed to pick up a 2-1 win over England in the quarter-finals despite not managing to hit top form. They will certainly need to improve against a well-organised and determined Morocco side tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Morocco are the first African team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup and they will be hoping to make history once again when they take on France on Wednesday. The Atlas Lions managed to upset the odds and eliminate Portugal in the quarterfinals, and they will be hoping to achieve a similar feat in the semifinals now.

It will be interesting to see if Morocco can step up and grind out another surprise win against the defending world champions this week.

Team News and Tactics

France

Didier Deschamps will have a fully fit squad to choose from and France does not have any notable injury concerns ahead of the semi-final clash against Morocco on Wednesday.

Hugo Lloris is expected to start in goal after an impressive showing against England.

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is expected to deputise as the right-back in the absence of a more natural option.

In the central defence, Raphael Varane could partner with Ibrahima Konate. Dayot Upamecano had a mediocre display against England, and he could be dropped in favour of the Liverpool defender here.

Theo Hernandez is expected to continue as the left back here.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot put on a stellar display against England, and both players are expected to start in the base of France’s midfield here. While Tchouameni will look to break up the play, Rabiot will hope to drive the team forward with his technical ability and physicality.

Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembélé are expected to start in the wide areas, and they will add pace, flair and creativity to the French attack.

Antoine Griezmann is expected to operate in between the lines, and he will link the midfield with the attack.

Olivier Giroud was excellent against England, and he will be hoping to get on the score sheet once again in the semifinals.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Konate, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud

Morocco

Morocco could be without a number of key players for this game. Walid Cheddira was shown a red card in the game against Portugal, and he is set to miss out here.

Meanwhile, Captain Romain Saiss and centre-back Nayef Aguerd are doubtful with injury issues.

Yassine Bounou will start in goal after his fantastic performances in the tournament so far.

In the back four, Achraf Hakimi will continue as the right back and Yahya Attiat-Allah will start as the left back. If Aguerd and Saiss miss out, the likes of Achraf Dari and Jawad El Yamiq will come into the side as the centre-backs.

In the midfield, Azzedine Ounahi will partner alongside Sofyan Amrabat and Selim Amallah.

The front three pretty much picks itself with Youssef En-Nesyri leading the line. Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal will be the wide options.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Yamiq, Dari, Attiat-Allah; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

Key Stats

France have won 8 of their last 9 matches (FIFA World Cup).

France have scored at least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 matches (FIFA World Cup).

Morocco are undefeated in their last 6 matches (FIFA World Cup).

Morocco are yet to concede a goal scored by an opposition player.

France have faced Morocco 11 times in the past, winning seven, drawing three, and losing only once.

Majestic Messi passes Batistuta as Argentina all-time World Cup top scorer

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After scoring the penalty in the first half of the semi-final against Croatia, Lionel Messi passes Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time World Cup top scorer.

Since the 1966 edition, no player has scored or assisted in more different World Cup matches than Lionel Messi (13 – level with Ronaldo).

Lionel Messi has overtaken Argentina football icon Gabriel Batistuta as the nation’s top ever scorer at a World Cup after he gave them the lead in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

Messi opened the scoring with a lethal left-footed finish from the penalty spot after Julian Alvarez was taken down by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic inside the area. Messi stepped up to convert from the spot and net his 11 th World Cup goal.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar had levelled Batistuta’s World Cup tally of ten goals in Friday’s quarter-final progression against the Netherlands with a coolly-converted second-half penalty, before also scoring in the penalty shootout.

Messi, Alvarez combine to send Argentina to historic World Cup finals

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Argentina’s master and pupil Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez combined to deadly effect as they reached their sixth World Cup final with victory over Croatia at Lusail Stadium.

Messi now gets one last chance to win the piece of silverware that has eluded him in his trophy-laden career but Manchester City’s 22-year-old striker Alvarez claimed at least an equal share of top billing as Argentina ensured they will return here on Sunday to face either France or Morocco.

Argentina’s little genius looked to be struggling with a hamstring problem early on but recovered enough to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after 34 minutes following Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s foul on the marauding Alvarez.

Alvarez doubled Argentina’s lead five minutes later when he took Messi’s header just inside Croatian territory and embarked on a slaloming run, aided by fortunate bounces off Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa, before beating Livakovic.

There was no fortune involved in a brilliant third after the break as Messi mesmerised Croatia’s excellent defender Josko Gvardiol on the byeline before playing in Alvarez for the finish.

Messi will now have the opportunity to make amends for the bitter disappointment of losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Rio’s iconic Maracana.

Messi’s last crack at World Cup glory

When Messi stretched and clutched the top of his left hamstring 19 minutes into this World Cup semi-final, there was a fear the dream for Argentina and their iconic number 10 might have the nightmare ending.

Instead, Messi recovered after a spell at walking pace to inspire Argentina as they go in search of a third triumph in the tournament following victories in 1978 and 1986.

And what a far cry it was from when Argentina were the victims of what is still the biggest shock of this World Cup in Qatar when they lost their opening game 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, despite Messi putting one of the pre-tournament favourites in front.

It was in 1990 that Argentina were stunned in similar fashion by Cameroon in their first game and went on to reach the final, losing 1-0 to West Germany.

Now they have the chance to go one better as the World Cup reaches its climax. And Messi can finally claim the crown in his final tournament.

Argentina used this meeting with the stubborn, resilient and talented 2018 finalists Croatia to produce their most convincing performance of this World Cup, suggesting Lionel Scaloni’s side are hitting their peak at the perfect time.

Messi, inevitably, was at the heart of it all and involved in every goal, but Alvarez has shown in Qatar that he has, barring accidents, a wonderful career ahead of him.

Much has been made of Manchester City’s big spending over the years but what a coup it was to sign Alvarez from River Plate for the bargain price of £14.1m.

Croatia bow out with heads held high

Croatia were undone, like so many before them, by the brilliance of Messi – as well as his young partner Alvarez – after making a confident and composed start to this World Cup semi-final.

Their defence was exposed in uncharacteristic fashion for Argentina’s first two goals and there was little even their outstanding young defender Gvardiol could do about Messi’s twisting run that set up the third.

Croatia, however, have had an outstanding tournament once more as the country with a population of only four million followed up their appearance in the final in Russia in 2018 with a place in the last four in Qatar.

If Argentina have Messi, then Croatia have their own master footballer in Luka Modric and he received warm applause from all parts of Lusail Stadium when he was substituted with nine minutes left.

He, like Messi, had his sights set on a World Cup triumph after experiencing the same pain of final defeat, but it was not to be.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic and his players can be proud of their efforts, despite being well beaten here, and in 20-year-old RB Leipzig defender Gvardiol they have unearthed one of the break-out stars of this World Cup who will serve them well for many years and is already a serious target for Europe’s elite clubs.

WATCH LIVE: Argentina vs Croatia – 2022 World Cup

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Click on any of the links below to watch the game.

Kickoff is at 19:00 GMT [7pm]

Stream Link

Lineups:

?? Argentina XI: Martínez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister; Messi, Julián Álvarez

?? Croatia XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic

Hearts of Oak legend blasts Afriyie Barnieh over contract renewal saga

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Former Accra Hearts of Oak striker, Charles Taylor, has lambasted Daniel Afriyie Barnieh for dragging his contract extension talks.

Charles Taylor claims that Afriyie Barnieh has not been exceptional to bluff and drag his feet in contract negotiation talks.

According to Taylor, the Black Galaxies skipper has had just one good season; hence, he should not behave like a top player.

“Afriyie Barnie should think twice because he is not even at that top level now to behave like he is big now on Hearts of Oak,” he told Sports Obama TV.

“We played for 6 good years, and Hearts of Oak benefits a lot from us, but you can’t say the same for Afriyei Barnie because he has only played three seasons for Hearts and is only in the last season that he was able to pick up, so he is not even at that top level to feel big on Hearts of Oak,” he added.

Taylor entreated Barnieh to reach an agreement with Hearts of Oak and not heed people who are advising him to do the opposite.

“He should sit with his family and also sit with Hearts of Oak to reach an agreement for both sides to benefit if not, the same people who are praising him now behind the scene, telling him not to extend his contract will be the same people to welcome him home when he failed to get much playing time in his new club.”

Afriyie Barnieh’s future at Hearts of Oak is up in the air, with conflicting reports on whether he will stay at the club or walk out.

On Thursday, December 8, 2022, reports surfaced in the media space that a meeting between Barnieh’s management and officials of Hearts of Oak ended in a deadlock.

According to the report, both factions agree that Barnieh has outgrown Hearts of Oak and needs to secure a move abroad, but the point of departure is how he will leave the club.

Barnieh’s contract with Hearts of Oak expires this December, and as such, he has all the power to play the waiting game and leave Hearts for free.

The Phobians, however, recognize that Barnieh is now a hot commodity and that allowing him to go for free will be an unwise business decision.

The club is thus willing to hand him a new contract so that the prospective clubs could negotiate with them.

Reports indicate that, while there is some willingness on the part of his management to agree to this as they recognize the role Hearts of Oak have played in Barnieh’s career, they are unsure about Hearts’ plans.

GFA announce date for the opening and closing of the second transfer window for the 2022/23 season

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The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced a date for the opening and closing of the transfer window for the 2022/23 football season, a statement on the FA website revealed.

The statement from the FA read: “Reference is made to the 2022/23 football season which started on July 1, 2022 and set to end on June 30, 2023.”

“All clubs are kindly informed that the Second Registration Window for the 2022/2023 season will be opened from 00:01am on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 and closed at 23:59pm on Friday, February 10, 2023.”

“However, the international and domestic Transfer Window will open from 00:01am on Sunday, January 1, 2023 and will close at 23:59pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.”

“All clubs are to take note and transfer their players through the ITMS/DTMS before the transfer deadline on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 and to register their players in the FIFA Connect when the registration window opens on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 and closes at 23:59pm on Friday, February 10, 2023,” the statement.

2022 World Cup: Argentina vs Croatia preview: team news, kick-off time, probable lineups, tactics & key stats

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Argentina will face Croatia in the FIFA World Cup 2022 semi-finals on Tuesday, with a place in the final up for grabs.

Argentina have done reasonably well at the FIFA World Cup 2022 so far, and they will fancy their chances of getting past the challenge of Croatia on Tuesday night at the Lusail Stadium.

La Albiceleste, led by Lionel Messi, managed to overcome a difficult quarter-final challenge against the Netherlands and picked up a morale-boosting penalty shootout victory against Louis van Gaal’s side. They will be full of confidence and momentum heading into this game. And it will be interesting to see if they can put Croatia to the sword this week.

Meanwhile, Croatia have exceeded expectations again at the World Cup so far. And they eliminated tournament favourites Brazil in the last round. The Vatreni have shown impressive defensive organisation, and they will be hoping to shut out Argentina’s world-class attacking unit tomorrow.

Croatia managed to reach the finals of the 2018 edition, and they will be hoping to achieve a similar feat once again. footy.ghpush.com/ takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Argentina

Argentina do not have any major injury concerns ahead of the high-octane semi-final clash against Croatia. However, Lionel Scaloni will be without the services of Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna due to suspension.

La Albiceleste are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Emiliano Martinez in goal. Nahuel Molina impressed in his last outing and should start as the right-back here. Nicolas Tagliafico will deputise in the absence of Acuna as the left-back. As far as the centre-backs are concerned, Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi are pretty much guaranteed to start.

In the midfield, Rodrigo De Paul will partner with the likes of Enzo Fernandes and Alexis Mac Allister. While De Paul is expected to work hard defensively and break up the play, the likes of Mac Allister and Fernandez will add creativity and drive to the side.

In the front three, Lionel Messi is expected to start centrally with the likes of Julian Alvarez on the left and Angel Di Maria on the right flank. And goes without saying that Messi will be the beating heart for Argentina against Croatia.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez

Croatia

Zlatko Dalic does not have any major injury concerns heading into the semi-final clash this week. And the Croatia head coach should be able to field his full-strength eleven for the game against Argentina.

The 2018 World Cup finalists are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 as well, with Dominik Livakovic in goal. The 27-year-old has been exceptional in the tournament so far as he has bailed out his side in two penalty shootouts. He will be looking to make a defining impact in this game as well.

Meanwhile, Josip Juranovic, who has been garnering interest from all quarters, will start as the right-back, with Borna Sosa featuring as the left-back. Talented young defender Josko Gvardiol will partner Dejan Lovren at the heart of Croatia’s defence. Both players have done exceedingly well in the tournament so far and they will be hoping to shut out Lionel Messi and co. this time around.

The Croatia midfield three pretty much picks itself, with Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, and Mateo Kovacic set to start. Brozovic will be expected to carry out the defensive duties, while Kovacic and Modric will help control the ball and create opportunities for the attackers.

In the attack, Ivan Perisic and Mario Pasalic will start in the wide positions. And finally, Bruno Petkovic should start as the striker here after scoring an important goal against Brazil.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Lovren, Sosa; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Pasalic, Petkovic, Perisic

Key Stats

Tuesday’s clash will be the third World Cup meeting between Argentina and Croatia, and first in the knockout stages. Argentina won 1-0 in 1998 before Croatia’s 3-0 win in the 2018 edition in Russia.

Argentina have won just one of their last seven World Cup games against European sides (D3 L3), beating Poland 2-0 in the group stages this year. However, two of those three draws have resulted in penalty shootout victories.

Despite being on the verge of reaching consecutive finals, Croatia have not scored first in any of their last nine World Cup games since a 2-1 win over Iceland in the 2018 group stages. This is the furthest into the competition any side has got without opening the scoring in any of their matches.

Croatia have never failed to score in their ten World Cup knockout stage matches. However, they have also conceded at least once in each of their last eight, with five of their last six such games going to extra time.

Lionel Messi has both scored and assisted a goal in three different World Cup matches, including two at this year’s tournament (vs Mexico and Netherlands). Since 1966, no player has ever done so in four separate games.

Kotoku Royals part ways with coach Seth Ablade

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Kotoku Royals has parted ways with head coach, Seth Ablade on  mutual consent.

The management after an emergency meeting decided to relieve the head coach of his duties. Mr. Ablade’s position as head coach of the club became untenable following a run of dissatisfactory results (8 games,1win,1draw and six defeats), leaving the club in an unacceptable position in the league.

The club therefore finds it needful to effect a drastic  change in other to survive and remain in contention for the rest of the season.

The management wish coach Ablade all the best in his future endeavours and also thank him for all the hard work and fond memories he shared with the club.


Meanwhile, assistant coach Raphael Patron Akakpo has been instructed to take charge as the head coach pending when a substantial head coach  is appointed by the club management.


Royals will be play host to Legon Cities in their next league fixture at the Cape Coast stadium on the 23rd of December upon the resumption of the league.

Reporter: Dennis Osei Gyamfi, Kotoku Royals FC Communications

Afriyie Barnieh playing hide-and-seek with Hearts of Oak over contract renewal talks

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Hearts of Oak striker, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, has decided to adopt a hide-and-seek approach regarding his contract extension with the Phobians.

The young promising striker, who returned from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar last week, has declined to sign a new contract with Hearts following interest in his signature from several European clubs, including clubs in the oil-rich gulf country of Saudi Arabia.

Information available to Graphic Sports indicates that the 24-year-old player has been evasive about appending his signature to a new deal long before his contract expires.

The player is said to have just a few weeks left on his contract and a board member of Hearts, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, told Graphic Sports in an interview last Friday that the player had refused to reopen negotiations for a new contract.

He said Barnieh had often used his engagement in international duties as an excuse for not negotiating a new deal and anytime he was asked to negotiate for a new contract, he would point to one national assignment or the other as the reason he could not do so.

”We have not even had the opportunity to sit down with him. Whenever you call him he’ll give an excuse and because he gets invited to the national teams he’ll tell you that we are going here and when we come back I’ll sign,” he explained.

Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe emphasised that after a lengthy chat with the player last Friday, he promised to call back. He, however, said that the club would not push the player further if he decides not to sign because they had had enough of him postponing invitations to the negotiating table to talk about his plans.

”I’ve told my colleagues on the board that we should not allow him to dictate to us. If he is unwilling to sign we should allow him to go because it was Hearts that brought him to the limelight and if he wants to be ungrateful he should be allowed to go,’ he stated.

He advised Barnieh to learn from what happened to Benjamin Afutu, who also left under similar circumstances despite assuring that he was going to extend his contract and later had to return to the country after his Egyptian side terminated his contract and he is now without a club.

He said another player of the club, Patrick Razak, also did same and after his botched contract with Guinean side, Horoya AC, he came back begging to be accepted into Hearts.

He, therefore, advised Barnieh to learn lessons from those instances.

-Graphicsports

‘Chris Hughton is the right man for the Black Stars coaching job’ – Nyaho Tamakloe

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‘Chris Hughton is the right man for the Black Stars coaching job’ – Nyaho Tamakloe

A former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Chairman, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has advised the football chiefs to fill the Black Stars’ vacant coaching position with Chris Hughton.

Hughton was the technical advisor to the team during the tenure of Otto Addo and Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe believes that the former Tottenham Hotspur manager is the only one with the credentials to catapult the team to a desirable level following Otto Addo’s exit.

Speaking to Graphic Sports in an interview last Friday, the former FA boss said he doubted the competence of the 47-year-old Borussia Dortmund scout and raised the alarm when he was appointed, but his advice fell on deaf ears.

”When the committee came up with Chris Hughton, Otto Addo and the rest, I said Otto was not really a coach and if he was a coach at all, he didn’t have enough experience.

”So I suggested that in the interim we should go for Prosper Narteh Ogum, then later bring in Chris Hughton because Otto Addo could not handle the Black Stars, but people thought I was joking. You see the ending now?” he quizzed.

He was disappointed in Otto’s tenure, including his failure to attend meetings with the FA since his appointment because he was always stationed outside the country and wondered how a national team coach would be able to handle the team when he was not living in the country.

”I think Chris Hughton will be the right person because of his background. He has the African background; second he is a coach with experience and also has had the opportunity to know these boys,” he noted.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe also called on the FA to ensure that if Hughton was given the job, he should relocate to Ghana and build his own Black Stars around local players and also train attackers for the team.

”If Chris Hughton is given the job, then he should come and stay in Ghana and form his local Black Stars to ensure that the nucleus of the team should come from them. He should be able to create and also train strikers for the Black Stars,” he stated.

He also challenged the government to reconsider its investment in the national team by investing heavily to help football grow in the country because the piecemeal approach was not helping football development.

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