1. Vive la difference! It was Mbappe again

France showed the savoir faire of champions to dash Moroccan, Arab and African dreams in a nervy, hard-fought semi-final.

And Kylian Mbappe did enough to make the difference between the two sides even if he was not at his coruscating best.

The holders took an early lead and added a late cushion to withstand a spirited challenge from the first African nation to reach the heady heights of the last four.

It was not a classic, but a typical semi-final: physical, often scrappy and sometimes desperate. But a hell of a contest nonetheless.

And as he was against England, Mbappe was kept quiet for much of the game, but his electric bursts – and mere presence – were again enough.

The PSG superstar diverted defenders and created openings for teammates, two of which were gratefully accepted.

The early goal was the first Morocco had conceded to an opponent in the competition (outside of penalty shootouts) and it allowed France to sit back.

But with Mbappe’s pace always at their disposal, Morocco couldn’t throw the kitchen sink.

Even so, Mbappe’s Messi-esque dribble late on led to the clincher. Substitute Randal Muani’s tap-in came just 44 seconds after he was sent on – the second fastest by a substitute in World Cup history.

With Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate a rock in defence, France hung on to book their date with destiny – and Lionel Messi – in Sunday’s final.

But nothing went right for the men in red. An early concession was the last thing they wanted with five men at the back.

Nor did they have the rub of the green: a strong penalty claim went unheeded and the post was hit.

It just wasn’t their day.

2. Morocco are the team of tournament

Lionel Messi may yet make it HIS World Cup, but team of the tournament? It has to be Morocco.

No-hopers, 300-1 outsiders and dubbed the “Rocky Balboa of the World Cup” by their own manager, they united the Arab world and captured the imagination of the rest of it.

They lived the dream and went down fighting to the defending champions in the semi-final.

But what a story they wrote!

From the way they held Croatia in their opening game to their ultimate defeat to France, they played like seasoned veterans – not rank outsiders.

Along the way, they topped their group and toppled European aristocrats. They made Belgium’s Golden Generation feel their age before knocking out Spain and Portugal.

And all with a weakened, injury-hit squad held together by an unbreakable spirit.

Adding even more lustre to their achievement, it was all done under a new manager only in place since September. Walid Regragui may find he’s a man in demand such was the team spirit he fostered and tactical nous he employed.

It was reward for the huge investment in football made by King Mohammed VI and a pointer for the rest of Africa to follow suit.

The Atlas Lions’ progress was no fluke. They bossed the game against the world champions for long periods despite falling behind to an early strike. And came close to pulling a goal back right to the dying moments.

Off the field, their achievement was perhaps even greater: getting other Arab nations to set aside their squabbles and unite in one cause may have repercussions for the whole region.

That certainly would be an undreamed-of payoff for this World Cup.

3. Griezmann in from the cold

Three months ago, Antoine Griezmann was a nowhere man going nowhere. Allowed to play for a maximum of 30 minutes, he was caught in a farcical contract situation between clubs.

Ostensibly a player for Atletico Madrid, he was the unwitting victim of a pass-the-parcel dispute with Barcelona. He WAS the parcel.

Having been a £100 million flop for the Catalans – one of those disastrous misfit signings that almost caused bankruptcy – he was sold back to Atletico, albeit with strings attached.

Eventually, and just in time for the World Cup, the dispute was settled and Griezmann could play a full game.

But because of injuries to his midfielders, manager Didier Deschamps played him in a deeper role and hes flourished. He’s flourished gone from part-timer to running the game.

Taking all the set-pieces, creating, conniving and generally bossing the game, he’s become a different player to the out and out striker he once was.

He won the Bronze Ball at the last World Cup and could end up with one of an even more precious metal this time.

4. Whose side are you on?

Moroccan manager Walid Regragui admitted to being “uncomfortable” about facing France, the country of his birth, where he lives and where he grew up.

He was not the only one with divided loyalties.

Ousmane Dembele’s wife, Rima Edbouche, is Moroccan and a TikTok sensation at that.

Achraf Hakimi, star right-back for PSG, was born in Madrid. Yassine Buono (Bono) grew up in Canada.

No less than 16 of the 26-man squad were born outside Morocco. Last time it was 17.

After the win over Portugal, Regragui said: “Today we have shown that every Moroccan is Moroccan. When he comes to the national team he wants to die, he wants to fight.

“As the coach, I was born in France, and nobody can have my heart for my country.

“This is what I say to the players. Every time they come to the national
team, they give 100 per cent.”

The way they have played brooks no argument about where their hearts lie and the trend marks a significant reversal of recent history. It also gives African nations further hope they can close the gap on their European former colonists.

Europe’s top teams, especially France and England, have included many players of African extraction to bolster their squads in recent decades.

Players with dual nationality were happy to be called up by the so-called stronger nation as their chances of winning appeared greater.

But among many other achievements at the tournament, this Moroccan success may be the watershed moment to tilt recruitment back to players’ roots.

5. Was that takraw they were playing?

Whatever else happened in the semi-final, two significant touches were worthy of sepak takraw.

First was Theo Hernandez’ goal. Latching on to a bouncing ball in the box, it was shoulder height when the full-back made contact.

It looked a stretch for anyone, yet he kept it down and sent it unerringly into the net to put France ahead.

Second was the overhead kick by Jawad El Yamiq just before half-time. Determined to make amends for his error that led to France’s opener, the midfielder had his back to goal at a corner.

But he connected acrobatically to hit the post with a truly spectacular effort.

It would have been the Goal of the World Cup had it gone in, and might have changed the course of the match.

It was the sort of effort rarely attempted in football – but meat and drink to takraw players.