"VAN" (Sports Desk - 15.10.2025) :: In football, extraordinary coincidences do happen. Among the four semi-finalists of the U-20 World Cup in Chile are the same national teams that reached the semi-finals of the senior World Cup in Qatar three years ago: Argentina, France, and Morocco. Back then, Croatia completed the quartet; this time, it’s Colombia. Yet the storyline remains familiar — three of the same nations are once again fighting for a place in the final.
Such parallels are not unusual in world football. Three years ago in Qatar, the world watched as France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the semi-final to advance to the final against Argentina. It was a story of tradition, character, and the depth of French football. Today, a new chapter of that story is being written — the same colours, the same emotions — only now in a youth format, and on another continent.
France U-20 will once again face Morocco U-20, this time in Valparaíso. But this is more than just a match. It is a symbol of football’s cyclical nature — where past and future intertwine in a single game.
INSPIRED BY QATAR For France, that 2022 semi-final is more than a memory — it’s part of their inspiration. Back then, Didier Deschamps’ team faced an exceptionally organized, disciplined, and proud Moroccan side — the first African team in history to reach a World Cup semi-final. Goals from Hernández and Muani sealed France’s victory, but the entire football world acknowledged that Morocco had earned its respect. Now, their young successors stand in each other’s path once more. In the French camp, this rematch carries a special meaning.
“I remember that match very well. I have many Moroccan friends in my city, so I watched it with them,” said Baseya Steven, one of France’s youth team leaders. “During that semi-final, I thought we could beat anyone if we gave everything we had. The next semi-final is mine! This will be a very strong team — we know it, we’ve watched their games. We’re preparing at full strength and will be more committed than ever.”
Similar emotions are shared by Nzingoula Rabby, who back then could only dream of representing his country. “Yes, I watched that 2022 match between France and Morocco, and I could never have imagined that a few years later I’d be in the same position, playing against them. I’m really looking forward to this match,” he said with a smile.
FRENCH SELF-CONFIDENCE Bernard Diomède’s team arrived in Chile with a clear goal — to reach the semi-finals. That mission has been accomplished. But no one in the French camp plans to stop there. The next match carries not only sporting importance but also symbolic weight, given the shared footballing history between France and Morocco.
“We represent France — our academies, our coaches, and our clubs. It’s a source of pride. Even if there are only twenty of us here, we’ve achieved something incredible,” emphasized France’s head coach, Bernard Diomède.
“I remember that 2022 match in Qatar very well — I watched it at home with my kids and even called to congratulate the national team staff on the victory. We already knew then that Morocco is an opponent that never gives up. We know their style well because we faced them twice last year at Clairefontaine and exchanged video analyses. We’ve already started preparing tactics and studying other teams,” he added.
Despite having a reduced 20-player squad instead of the usual 21, France has shown remarkable stability and technical strength. Diomède admits that much of the team’s success comes from unity — both among the players and the staff.
“I told the boys: we haven’t won anything yet. The most important thing is to recover and prepare well. We took no risks with anyone, even if it disappointed some. But now everyone is ready.”
Midfielder Beyuku spoke simply but sincerely about preparation: “They have two very active strikers who constantly press and create chances. We’ll work a lot on their game, and then the coach will decide the tactics. We’ll just do what we do in training. It’s hard to prepare for every opponent because the matches come one after another, and there’s little time to rest.”
ARGENTINA IN SIGHT And when asked if he dreams of rewriting the 2022 Qatar story — perhaps this time beating Argentina in the final — Nzingoula Rabby smiled: “Of course! We can beat anyone. Anything can happen.”
France vs. Morocco is more than just a semi-final — it’s the continuation of a football story that began in Qatar and now unfolds in Chile. Three years ago, Les Bleus opened the road to the final under the world’s gaze. Now, their young successors are doing the same — carrying their own names, their own emotions, and their own dreams.
Cr-AIPS
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