The FIFA World Cup 2022 has had its fair share of surprises and excitement so far. The competition has seen 32 of the world’s best national teams go head-to-head in 64 matches. The tournament has been a real treat for fans of the beautiful game. There have been some interesting moments, including the return of a team that played in the tournament four years ago. The tournament has been a real test of a team’s mettle, and there are some intriguing stories to follow.
Every match of the World Cup 2022 Final 8 was a sweaty affair to watch. The results of matches like Croatia vs. Brazil and Morocco vs. Portugal, which are the biggest cold games of the tournament, once again prove what makes the World Cup so fascinating. Defending champions France and World Cup runner-up Croatia are two of the four teams left standing at the end of the group stage. Both have exhibited good form and qualified for the semifinals. Both also have excellent players. The other two semi-finalists are Argentina and Morocco. The Atlas Lions are a tough, stout team that has beaten some of Europe’s heavyweights along the way. They will play a big-name opponent in the other semifinal, and are well-placed to upset a favored team.
Now, with the final four teams of the 2022 World Cup having been announced, let’s make our predictions together and see which two teams have a better chance of reaching the final of this year’s World Cup!
Croatia vs Argentina｜December 14 ｜00:30 AM (Indian time)
Argentina is the spear of offensive firepower, while Croatia is the shield of impenetrable protection, and also both faced teams somewhat similar to every various other in the last 8 and also came out triumphant, making this match much more unforeseeable.
Why Croatia will reach the final
Croatia’s battling spirit is not something you can evaluate in data or data, however it is among the important things that will stress Argentina the most. The longer the match stays well balanced, the more powerful Croatia’s belief will become. 8 of their last 9 knockout games in major events have mosted likely to added time, with success over Japan as well as Brazil on penalties in Qatar.
Their triad of midfielders Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic have the technical capacity to control the big game on the ball, and when they have to safeguard, they are solid as well as arranged. Croatia will certainly be wanting to interfere with the rhythm of Argentina as well as Lionel Messi, triggering them to stress and after that look to capitalize.
The 2018 World Cup finalists are a tough, proud team, with Modric as influential as Messi. Their performance history in the last 2 Globe Cups recommends that this is a very carefully crafted plan. They can certainly do the very same to Argentina if they can knock out Brazil.
Take Messi out of the team, and Argentina is a limited team. For a nation that creates some amazing players, there is a genuine lack of world class support for Messi. Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Michael Allister all played well in the Qatar match, but they are not top quality players.
With the match approaching the definitive stage, crucial information are very important and also they need to discover something extra to defeat Croatia. Lionel Scaloni’s side will certainly require to locate a method to stop Modric from dominating the game in midfield with his round activity, however this will coincide difficulty for all of Croatia’s opponents, and couple of will certainly be successful. This match will boil down to whether Argentina can quit Modric, yet it will certainly additionally come down to just how they can threaten Croatia in a way that does not include Messi.
Why Argentina will reach the final
This is Messi’s last chance to win the World Cup, and he has brought Argentina to this stage with his brilliance and strength of character. He is not the gamer he was in his prime, however at 35 he has shown he still has the capability to make an important difference. His objectives against Mexico as well as Australia placed Argentina when driving to a big win, as well as his reverse pass for Neville Molina in the quarter-final against the Netherlands was one of the highlights of the World Cup.
One of the most evident reason Argentina made it to the last over Croatia is due to the fact that they have better players. Argentina and Messi pertained to Qatar with the purpose of lifting the prize, while Croatia and Modric were hoping to make it via to the group stage. There is a reason for this totally based on the assumptions of the deepness of talent each coach has.
Croatia made it to the final in 2018, once there, the last obstacle against France seemed like a game also far. They conceded 4 objectives in 65 minutes. Given that they played 120 minutes in the round of 16, semifinals as well as quarterfinals, it was the equivalent of playing one more game in the knockout rounds.
Besides 4 sway Canada in the team phase, Croatia discovered the net just two times in the various other four games, racking up in the 116th min against Brazil with the only shot on objective – as well as also that needed a substantial deflection. After overtime and also penalty kicks versus Japan and also Brazil, Croatia is likely to run out of steam against Argentina, especially when trainer Lionel Scaloni can move to his bench and also put in some top quality gamers.
Head to Head
Argentina and Croatia have met five times so far. Both teams have won two matches and one match ended in a draw. This is the third time they have met at the World Cup, but the first time they have met in the knockout stages. Their World Cup history is also evenly matched. Argentina defeated Croatia 1-0 in their first World Cup match in 1998, while Croatia won 3-0 in 2018.
Morocco vs France｜December 15｜00:30 AM (Indian time)
Morocco, the strongest dark horse in the 2022 World Cup, emerged from the group stage undefeated, even beating traditional powers Spain and Portugal. In beating England, the French team became the first defending champions to reach the semi-finals since Brazil in 1998.
Why Morocco will reach the final
No team has the same momentum, no group has the very same regional and also worldwide assistance as these possible history makers. This North African team has in fact made history. They are the first African group, the initial Arab team and the initial Muslim majority group to get to the semi-finals in the history of the World Cup.
Morocco’s success in this tournament has been built on a strong defense and also unparalleled effectiveness. Until now in Qatar’s World Cup campaign, no opponent has actually ever burglarized the Moroccan objective – the only goal they have conceded so far was a goal against Canada.
They have two midfielders, Sofiane Amrabat and also Azzedine Onahi, who are outstanding in regards to quantity and also top quality, and also they have wingers Sofiane Boufal and also Hakim Ziyech, who can get you goals out of nothing, which is often the case at this stage of the game.
France came under pressure against England. Harry Kane required Dayot Upamecano to make some errors that can show expensive. Morocco as well as En Nesyri will surely target Upamecano with lengthy passes behind his back. They will likewise target Jules Kounde at right back, which is the largest weak point of the French defense. Morocco’s winger Boufal, that has actually remained in wonderful type this competition, will attack Kounde.
Besides Coman, Didier Deschamps does not have a choice on the bench that is as strong as the beginners. He has good young demonstrators (Marcus Thuram, Kolo Mouani) and midfielders (Youssouf Fofana), yet no person that can truly change the game. If France can not damage the deadlock, lack of depth might be a problem.
Why France will reach the final
Defending World Cup champs have constantly had a difficult trip recently. In the last 12 years, Italy, Spain and Germany have all gone out early in the team phase as the defending champions, and France have broken that spell in Qatar. France revealed all their strength and mental strength. It will be a really different game versus Morocco, yet they have everything they require to beat them.
This time the French team is a little bit extra extensive. They have a lot of individually hazards on the pitch (Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman on the bench, Aurelien Chuameni’s long-range shots) as well as objectives can happen anywhere, anytime. On set pieces, France’s all-time leading marker Olivier Giroud, that scored the victor versus England, and also the tremendous Dajot Upamecano are significant hazards.
Morocco beat Spain as well as Portugal due to the fact that those 2 teams were too one-dimensional. Mbappe and Dembele have the skill, speed and hoax to defeat any person in an individually situation, something that Spain as well as Portugal do not have.
Morocco’s entire first-choice quartet of defenders (Akhlaf Hakimi, Romain Saiss, Naif Agourde, Noussair Mazraoui) are all hurting literally. Walid Khedira is additionally suspended for the suit against Portugal, which means that Yusuf Nesiri, that is additionally wounded, will need to lead the team on his very own.
But France are healthy, no injury concerns, no tiredness, no suspensions and also no players missing. After beating England in the quarter-finals, they are full of self-confidence as well as motivation. They have the most effective gamer on the planet in Mbappe, that will face his friend Hakimi, that he understands like the back of his hand as well as wishes to beat so he can return to scoring goals and also winning the Golden Boot.
Head to Head
France have never lost to Morocco and their previous five meetings have all been in friendlies. Their first encounter was in 1988, but in lesser known matches, the two sides met several times in the 1960s. There were also encounters in 1999 and again in 2000. France and Morocco last met in 2007, when they drew 2-2 at the Stade de France in Paris.
Live Streaming
Both semi-final matches will be broadcast live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD TV channels in India, and Jio Cinema’s app and website will provide free live streaming of the matches.
Conclusion
The FIFA World Cup has been a real hoot. While half of the teams have been eliminated, the competitors have displayed impressive displays of skill, and there have been some intriguing moments. The FIFA World Cup has a number of exciting matches in the coming days. The semifinals are just the beginning. The last matches will take place in Qatar. The winners of both semifinals will meet in the grand finale on Sunday, December 18.
Can Lionel Messi’s World Cup “Last Tango” lead his country to take the crown for the first time? There is always the chance that Morocco will shock the world and win its first World Cup in four years. We still have a chance to see a repeat of the last World Cup final – if France can beat Morocco and Croatia can stop Argentina. The defending champions have a chance to become the first team to win back-to-back titles in over 60 years.