Live Blog: France defeat Morocco 2-0, book spot in final against Argentina

Keep up with all the latest news and reaction ahead of semifinal action at the 2022 FIFA World Cup on TSN. 

The 2022 FIFA World Cup continues on Wednesday with Morocco and France meeting in semifinal action.

You can watch every game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup LIVE on TSN, TSN.ca, and the TSN App.

These are the lineups employed by each side:

France: Hugo Lloris, Jules Kounde, Ibrahima Konate, Raphael Varane, Theo Hernandez, Youssouf Fofana, Aurelian Tchouameni, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud. 

Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Romain Saiss, Jawad El-Yamiq, Noussair Mazraoui, Achraf Dari, Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech, Azzedine Ounahi, Sofiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri. 

Live Updating

90+3' - Morocco refuse to give up, even as the clock ticks below five minutes remaining. A brilliant run ended with two shots on goal, one of which was saved by a French defenceman on the goal line. 

90' - Six additional minutes have been allotted, as Morocco still seek their first goal. 

85' - Morocco still search desperately for a goal to get back into the game; they've entered the French crease, but the final good try on net has eluded them all game. 

79' - Mbappe controlled an extended possession in the Moroccan crease, and he finally found Randal Kolo Muani on the back post, who drained the ball 44 seconds after entering the game to increase the lead to 2-0 for France. 

78' - Dembele was subbed out for France, as he was replaced by Kolo Muani. Morocco made their final change of the match, replacing Selim Amallah with Abdessamad Ezzalzouli.

75' - Morocco benefitted from a bad French turnover, and Abderrazak Hamdallah dribbled but couldn't muster the courage to try a shot from inside the French crease before finally surrendering possession.  

71' - Another set piece provided a golden opportunity for France, but the header was sent just wide of the net and rolled out to safety. 

68' - France almost doubled their lead with a set piece try after a foul, as the ball careened dangerously in the Moroccan crease. A French player could not get a good foot on the ball towards the net, and it was eventually cleared. 

67' - Zakaria Aboukhlal nearly scored moments after subbing on, as a cross-field pass sailed just over his head in the penalty box. 

64' - The first substitution of the game for France came with Giroud heading for the bench, to be replaced by Marcus Thuram. Morocco made a pair of changes as well, with Boufal and En-Nesyri headed for the bench to be replaced by Hamdallah and Aboukhlal. 

60' - France have tried to slow the pace of play after a heated attack by Morocco early, but the African side have been steady in their attacking pressure. 

53' - Morocco's passing has been world-class in the opening minutes of the second half, but Konate deflected for France to quell the threat. 

51' - The attack down the right side has opened some opportunities for Morocco, though they've been unable to line up a strong try on net. 

47' - Mbappe has shocked the Moroccan defence a few times early in the second half, as he's forced a defensive stop in the Moroccan crease twice in two minutes. 

45' - Morocco have made a change at half time, with Yahya Attiat-Allah replacing Mazraoui. 

45+3' - The African side really threatened late in stoppage time, with a pair of set pieces coming very close to opening real goal chances. France held on in both instances to the halftime whistle. 

43' - Morocco earned their first corner kick try, when Hakimi's strong run into the crease was deflected out by Konate. The corner try was just missed by a Moroccan head, but the ball found its way to El-Yamiq, who tried a bicycle kick that banged off the side post and bounced out. 

39' - Dembele found Griezmann charging into the crease with a well-placed pass, and the attack earned France a corner kick try when it was deflected out. Griezmann passed low, but Varane couldn't direct the ball on net. 

35' - The French side exhibited too much speed for Morocco - Mbappe broke free, but stumbled before firing a good shot off. The ball came to Giroud moments later, who fired just wide. 

33' - France line up to take the first corner try of the game, which Griezmann struck well, but a French head could not find it. 

29' - Both sides seek to solve the opposition, as the pace as slowed a bit - to France's advantage, as they continue to nurse a lead. 

24' - Disaster nearly struck again for Morocco, as a half-hearted pass to the keeper nearly resulted in a giveaway in their own crease and a free shot on net. Bounou was able to clear, to the delight of the overwhelming Moroccan support in the stands. 

20' - Morocco have made their first substitution of the game: Saiss was forced to depart due to injury, and Amallah came on to replace him. 

17' - France lit a strong counter-attack immediately, and Giroud shot a rocket from the edge of the Moroccan crease, which beat everyone but the side post. Saiss appears injured for Morocco, as he was unable to challenge Giroud. 

16' - Boufal took a strong charge down field for Morocco, but Ziyech could not apply a finish. 

9' - Ounahi controlled and put a good foot on the ball from the edge of the French crease, and it forced Lloris to make a diving save for France. An encouraging development for the African side. 

8' - Trailing for the first time this tournament, the Moroccan side now have to dedicate an offensive attack rather than sit back on defence as they have. Ziyech made a good run, but the quality required has not presented itself yet. 

5' - Griezmann broke through the Moroccan defence, and the ball squeaked around the crease until Hernandez controlled and scored an early opener for the French side.

2' - The expectation coming in was that this game script would follow the previous ones for Morocco: a strong defensive effort, with goals expected to come from a chance counter-attack. The pace was a bit more in Morocco's favour to open though.

Morocco vs. France

Reportedly, Adrien Rabot and Dayot Upamecano will not suit up for France in their semifinal match with Morocco. An illness spread through the French side that has made the two regulars unable to play. 

Morocco has already made history in becoming the first African nation to advance to the semifinal round of a FIFA World Cup tournament, and their supporters are expected to flood Al Bayt Stadium for the game against France.

A six-game unbeaten streak has already set a record for African teams at the FIFA World Cup, and a seventh would push Morocco to levels previously undreamt of. 

The African side have kept no secrets; they are in the semifinals on the back of their strong goalkeeping and team defence. They face the biggest challenge of the tournament in trying to hold down Kylian Mbappe and France. 

France and Morocco have never met on soccer's biggest stage. France has had considerable success against African clubs at the World Cup though. Can Morocco claim the victory with the highest stakes of all?

Additionally, Yassine Bounou has taken the tournament by storm in net for Morocco, with his four clean sheets easily leading all keepers. 

 Mbappe has been dominant for France, continually electrifying his opposition with his speed and maneuvering with the ball. He is the favourite to take home the Golden Boot, which is awarded to the top goal scorer at the tournament. 

Morocco have already solved Spain and Portugal, including holding Cristiano Ronaldo scoreless, but Mbappe provides another level of challenge they haven't met yet.

One big story from the matchup is the relationship between club-teammates-turned-rivals Archraf Hakimi of Morocco and Mbappe of France, who play together for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 play. 

A key matchup for the two sides will be Antoine Griezmann on attack for France against Sofyan Amrabat for Morocco.