France v Morocco: Keys to World Cup Semi-final

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Quarter Final - Morocco v Portugal - Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar - December 10, 2022 Morocco's Achraf Dari and Morocco's Walid Cheddira celebrate after the match as Morocco progress to the semi finals REUTERS/Carl RecineRead less
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Quarter Final - Morocco v Portugal - Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar - December 10, 2022 Morocco's Achraf Dari and Morocco's Walid Cheddira celebrate after the match as Morocco progress to the semi finals REUTERS/Carl RecineRead less
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France v Morocco: Keys to World Cup Semi-final

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Quarter Final - Morocco v Portugal - Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar - December 10, 2022 Morocco's Achraf Dari and Morocco's Walid Cheddira celebrate after the match as Morocco progress to the semi finals REUTERS/Carl RecineRead less
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Quarter Final - Morocco v Portugal - Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar - December 10, 2022 Morocco's Achraf Dari and Morocco's Walid Cheddira celebrate after the match as Morocco progress to the semi finals REUTERS/Carl RecineRead less

Morocco have conceded just one goal in the entire tournament -- an own goal in their 2-1 win over Canada in the group stage -- with Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal all failing to breach a rock-solid back line.

But France boast multiple goal threats. Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud have scored nine goals between them and Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann will also ask plenty of questions, AFP said.

Morocco have a number of fitness concerns in their defense -- center-back Nayef Aguerd missed the Portugal game with a muscle injury and his regular partner, Romain Saiss, was substituted with a repeat of a hamstring injury.

Whoever Walid Regragui is able to send out will have to be fully switched on -- France showed against England that even if Mbappe is neutralized there are plenty of other sources of danger.

- France wary of counter-attacks -It is likely that France will enjoy plenty of possession in the Moroccan half but they will have to guard against swift counter-attacks.

Morocco's style is direct and while they tend to focus on the flanks, with Hakim Ziyech on the right and Sofiane Boufal on the left, they can also go long to striker Youssef En-Nesyri and then scamper forward in support.

France's full-backs Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez can expect a busy night, while Morocco will look to take advantage of any slip-ups from center-half Dayot Upamecano, who had some shaky moments against England.

"We are well aware of their qualities, even if they don't often have possession," said Kounde. "They are very efficient with the ball, they try to combine quickly and find their wide players."

- Do Morocco have the legs? -Morocco spent a huge amount of energy in their wins against Spain and Portugal and with some players carrying injuries, Wednesday's game will be a real test of their durability and stamina.

The match against Spain went to penalties while they faced a frantic second half against Portugal.

France, in contrast, have been able to take care of their knockout games without any extra-time and should be much fresher.

Didier Deschamps' men will seek to exploit their fitness advantage by making Morocco work hard without the ball, switching play and forcing Regragui's team to chase the ball, especially in the early stages.

- Lions roared on -France have fewer injury concerns and more attacking weapons but Morocco will have the crowd behind them at the Al Bayt Stadium, urging them to pull off another upset.

The African side, known as the Atlas Lions, have been one of the best-supported teams in Qatar and they will benefit from huge backing on Wednesday as the first Arab team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.



Sinner Overcomes 'Big Drop' in Level in 2nd Match Back from Doping Ban at Italian Open

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 12, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner in action during his round of 32 match against Netherlands' Jesper De Jong REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 12, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner in action during his round of 32 match against Netherlands' Jesper De Jong REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
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Sinner Overcomes 'Big Drop' in Level in 2nd Match Back from Doping Ban at Italian Open

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 12, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner in action during his round of 32 match against Netherlands' Jesper De Jong REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 12, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner in action during his round of 32 match against Netherlands' Jesper De Jong REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

Jannik Sinner is still regaining his focus on the tennis court after his three-month doping ban.

The top-ranked player overcame a brief lapse during the first set of a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong in his second match back on tour at the Italian Open on Monday.

Sinner jumped out to a 4-1 lead but then lost his serve twice as the 93rd-ranked De Jong evened the first set at 4-4, The Associated Press reported.

There were poor drop shots, an inopportune double-fault and other errors from Sinner. But the Italian regained control in front of his home crowd with his powerful groundstrokes and big serve and extended his winning streak to 23 matches, dating back to October.

“I felt like I started the match very well and then I had a big drop,” Sinner said. “I tried to understand what was going on. Then fortunately I broke him on 4-all again, which then gave me the confidence to continue.”

Sinner is into the last 16 of his first tournament since he won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

In February, Sinner agreed to the three-month ban in a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency that raised some questions, since it conveniently allowed him not to miss any Grand Slams and come back at his home tournament.

The Italian Open is the last big warmup before the French Open starts on May 25.

Just like in his opening win over Mariano Navone on Saturday, the fans at the Foro Italico were fully behind Sinner — Italy’s first No. 1.

Yelling “Vai Jannik” (“Go Jannik”) and singing his name, the crowd provided encouragement whenever Sinner needed it.

“It’s good to have him back,” 12th-ranked Tommy Paul said of Sinner after beating Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4. “He’s such a big figure in the sport. He kind of sets the bar right now.”

The last Italian man to win the Rome title was Adriano Panatta in 1976.

Sinner led De Jong 22-16 in winners and had fewer unforced errors than his opponent, 16-25 — after trailing in that category against Navone.
Sinner also served better, producing four aces.

Sinner will next face 17th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo, who beat Austrian qualifier Sebastian Ofner 6-2, 6-4.

Cerundolo is coming off a run to the Madrid Open semifinals and beat Nicolas Jarry — last year’s Rome finalist — in straight sets in the opening round.

“Last time I played here, I lost against him here on this court,” Sinner said, referring to a three-set loss to Cerundolo in the round of 16 two years ago. “It’s going to be tough. For sure I have to raise my level if I want to play even. ... I’m trying to understand where my game is so it’s going to be a good challenge, good test for me.”

Sinner checks on fallen opponent De Jong fell to the clay when he lost his footing trying to reach a passing shot from Sinner in the second set and the Italian came across the net to check on him. Sinner fetched a towel for De Jong and wiped off the Dutchman’s racket handle.

De Jong then needed medical attention for his right wrist before resuming play.

Flyover disrupts De Minaur Also reaching the fourth round was seventh-seeded Alex De Minaur, who beat Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien in a match that was interrupted twice during the first set — first when a spectator got sick and then because of a flyover by the Italian Air Force’s acrobatic team.

De Minaur was visibly frustrated by the flyover.

“I didn’t handle it very well, because I got broken straight away,” De Minaur said. “I did well to bounce back and get the break back, but I’ve got to be a little bit better mentally to not let those things, outside factors affect me.”

In the women’s round of 16, Coco Gauff routed Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in a matchup of former US Open champions.

Peyton Stearns eliminated Naomi Osaka 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) after 2 hours, 41 minutes. Stearns also edged Australian Open champion Madison Keys in a third-set tiebreaker in her previous match.

Also, home favorite Jasmine Paolini beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.