French media: "Atlas Lions" demand respect before the match against the "Roosters".
Most French newspapers and media agree that the match between the Moroccan and French national teams in the quarter-finals of the World Cup will be one of the highlights of the tournament, as both teams made their way to this stage in different styles; Morocco with a convincing victory over Canada, and France with a tough win against Paraguay.
The newspaper "L'Équipe" highlighted that France reached the quarter-finals with difficulty after winning 1-0 against Paraguay in a match characterized by hot weather and the opponent's defensive compactness, noting that the penalty scored by Kylian Mbappé granted the "Les Bleus" a ticket to face Morocco.
"L'Équipe" added that the French team missed midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni due to injury and had to exert significant effort to break through the Paraguayan defense, considering that facing Morocco will be a different test against one of the tournament's top teams.
On the other hand, the newspaper "Le Parisien" focused on the disciplinary aspect before the match, explaining that several French players will enter the match against Morocco facing the threat of suspension if they receive a yellow card, which could deprive them of participating in the semi-finals if the French team qualifies.
"Le Parisien" pointed out that the French coaching staff will need to manage the match carefully, as maintaining discipline is just as important as achieving qualification, given the pressure of the knockout stages.
The radio and television station "RMC Sport" stated that the match between Morocco and France is not a "revenge match" as much as it is a "meeting between two teams that know each other well," recalling the sports and human ties between the two sides, while emphasizing that the circumstances are different from the semi-final match of the 2022 World Cup.
"RMC Sport" added that the Moroccan team continues to confirm its development on the global stage, while France realizes that it will face an opponent with a strong character and great confidence after its results in the last two editions of the World Cup.