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France vs. Morocco: Mbappe, Hakimi and key battles in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal clash at Gillette Stadium.
Kylian Mbappe’s France will take on Achraf Hakimi’s Morocco (Picture credit: AP)
Kylian Mbappe-led France are all set to take on Achraf Hakimi’s Morocco in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup, as the top eight battle kicks off on Friday.
France, the standout team of the tournament with a string of scintillating attacking performances, now face their most difficult challenge yet against African champions Morocco in the quarterfinal at Gillette Stadium, just outside Boston.
Morocco, meanwhile, have impressed throughout the tournament, cruising through the group stage before edging past Netherlands in the Round of 32 and then brushing aside Canada in the Round of 16 last weekend.
Let’s take a look at some of the key battles that might decide the clash:
Kylian Mbappe vs Issa Diop
With 30 defensive actions and 21 clearances, Diop has enjoyed a brilliant FIFA World Cup campaign. He has conceded just two goals in four game and even scored a crucial equaliser against the Netherlands in the Round of 32. His most difficult challenge, however, awaits him against Mbappé.
The France skipper has been in brilliant form, scoring seven goals and providing two assists till now. Mbappé has also attempted 26 shots, with 17 on target, making him one of the tournament’s most dangerous attackers.
Achraf Hakimi vs Bradley Barcola
Barcola has scored twice and registered one assist at the FIFA World Cup, though his contributions have been overshadowed by France’s other attacking stars. On the opposite flank, Hakimi has enjoyed an outstanding tournament, contributing one goal and two assists while making an impact at both ends of the field.
Hakimi has been a constant outlet down the right, combining defensive solidity with attacking thrust. His duel with Barcola promises to be one of the key battles of the quarterfinal.
Lucas Digne vs Brahim Diaz
Díaz has been one of Morocco’s standout performers at the FIFA World Cup, leading the team with four assists and serving as its chief creator. His only downside is that he hasn’t tested opposition goalkeepers often enough, having taken few shots during the tournament.
Digne will be tasked with containing Díaz. The former has contributed 19 defensive actions and 15 clearances till now. With Morocco expected to build much of their attack down the right flank, Digne’s performance could prove crucial in the quarterfinal.
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