Argentina and France could face off again at U20 World Cup | OneFootball

Argentina and France might relive, in a youth version, the epic final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when Lionel Messi and company defeated the French team of Kylian Mbappé on penalties. To do so, they will need to overcome in the U-20 World Cup semifinals two teams that have surprised the tournament: Colombia and Morocco, both determined to continue making history.

The matches take place this Wednesday (15), with France vs. Morocco in Valparaíso (8 PM GMT) and Argentina vs. Colombia in Santiago (11 PM GMT).

Argentina relies on tradition but suffers losses

Argentina, led by Diego Placente, arrives motivated after eliminating Mexico (2-0) in the quarterfinals and maintaining a 100% success rate in the tournament.

It is the most successful team in the history of the U-20 World Cup, with six titles, and has lost only one of the eight semifinals they have played since 1979.

Argentina's success is due to the offensive power of Alejo Sarco (four goals), the creativity of Maher Carrizo, and the intensity of Dylan Gorosito on the right. However, Placente will not have Carrizo, who is suspended, representing a significant loss in the creative sector.

On the other side, Colombia, coached by César Torres, arrives motivated, with six goals scored in the last two games — 3-1 over South Africa and 3-2 over Spain —, five of them scored by the revelation Neyser Villarreal, from Millonarios de Bogotá. Villarreal, however, is suspended, just like Carrizo, which changes the offensive outlook of the semifinal.

France faces surprising Morocco

In the other semifinal, in Valparaíso, France tries to confirm its favoritism against the surprising Morocco, the sensation of the tournament and the nemesis of powers like Spain, Brazil, and Mexico in the group stage. The French, champions in 2013, reached the semifinals with difficulties: they passed through Japan (1-0 in extra time) and Norway (2-1).

Unable to count on their main talents — Warren Zaïre-Emery, Mathys Tel, and Désiré Doué, retained by their clubs — coach Bernard Diomède relies on an alternative squad.

Meanwhile, the Atlas Lions, led by the duo Gessime Yassine and Yassir Zabiri, authoritatively defeated South Korea (2-1) and United States (3-1) in the knockout stages. The team dreams of surpassing the fourth place achieved in 2005, in the Netherlands, when they fell to Brazil in the third-place match.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.