Step aside Cristiano Ronaldo, step aside Neymar. Lionel Messi is here, and he is here for business.

Morocco's dream run in Qatar World Cup may have ended with a 2-0 defeat against the world champions France in the semifinals on Wednesday, but they should hold their heads high after what they've achieved in Doha over the three-and-a-half weeks.

France coach Didier Deschamps admitted he was "immensely proud" after Wednesday's 2-0 win over Morocco took the holders through to another World Cup final where he said his team would try to find a way of countering a Lionel Messi in "scintillating form" for Argentina.

France's Antoine Griezmann proved once again that he is the ultimate team player with another virtuoso performance to help guide his team to a second consecutive World Cup final on Wednesday with their 2-0 win over Morocco.

There was a poignant moment at the end of Argentina’s victory over Croatia. Julian Alvarez, who scored two goals in the 3-0 victory, went to his team’s dugout and was hugged by Lautaro Martinez, who was almost in tears.

France ended Morocco’s World Cup dream as goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani gave the holders a 2-0 win in their semifinal clash and set up a showdown on Sunday with Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

France set up a heavyweight World Cup final against Argentina after an early goal by Theo Hernandez and a late one from Randal Kolo Muani ended battling Morocco’s dream run via an action-packed 2-0 semi-final victory on Wednesday.

Argentines were in a dazed dreamland on Wednesday in the heady aftermath of a soccer World Cup victory that sets the country up for a final showdown on Sunday and the chance to win the tournament for the first time since Diego Maradona in 1986.

Argentina’s run to the World Cup final has been nothing short of breathless, with a loss against Saudi Arabia in their opening World Cup game triggering a fight-or-flight response that has seen La Albiceleste come out swinging in each of their games since.

The World Cup in Bangladesh is most fun when both Brazil and Argentina fans have some real skin in the game. 

 Morocco captain Romain Saiss and centre back partner Nayef Aguerd have been passed fit to play while France have been forced into two changes for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final.

On the metro to downtown Doha, three young supporters got up and immediately asked this reporter, on noticing the accreditation card hung around the neck, whether there were tickets they could buy.

Morocco wants to turn admiration for its team's World Cup run into diplomatic capital to secure a bigger role in African soccer and backing for its bid to host the global tournament.

Most teams at this year’s FIFA World Cup have talked about being like family, and the Moroccan team has truly been one. With their commitment to togetherness, strong support from their family members, and mutual respect among teammates, they have performed at the highest levels achieving success that no one anticipated.

Despite the fact that Hakimi has only recently moved to Paris in 2021, the two have a great rapport both on and off the field. Mbappé is fluent in Spanish, and he has been crucial in helping Hakimi adjust to life in the PSG locker room, and frequently posts about their friendship on social media, like in an Instagram story depicting the two enjoying a PSG win, Mbappé used the term "My brother" to refer to Hakimi.

Here are 4 facts that you may not know about Hakim Ziyech.

Here are 5 inspiring quotes from five different players of Les Bleus, the French football team.

 France are fully aware that Morocco are much more than a strictly defensive team as they prepare for their unexpected World Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has entered the knockout phase, and one of the top honours players will be competing for is the Golden Boot, awarded to the player with the most goals in the tournament.

Morocco's national airline said it was cancelling all flights it had scheduled for Wednesday to carry fans to Doha for the World Cup semi-final, citing what it said was a decision by Qatari authorities.