Morocco and France meet at Women's World Cup to make history

The Moroccan women's national team has travelled to Australia and New Zealand to follow in the footsteps of the boys. A historic path that is the result of the work of the Football Federation with the support of King Mohamed VI in recent years both with the youth academy and with women's football.

Morocco reached the World Cup for the first time in its history and was drawn in group H alongside Germany, South Korea and Colombia. The Germans were the overwhelming favourites and had no problem in thrashing the Moroccans 6-0 at the start of the competition.

But ex-footballer Reynald Pedros' charges rallied to win the next two matches by the narrowest of margins and hope for a miracle in the Germany-Korea game as Colombia pulled off a shock 2-1 win over Germany.   

Nine minutes of extra time was not enough and the 1-1 draw sent Germany home amid a huge crisis over the future of the national team while Morocco celebrated being the first debutant team to reach the last 16.   

FIFA president Gianni Infantino came down to celebrate Morocco's passage and was photographed with the team's jersey and some of its players, including Anissa Lahmari, who was voted player of the match.

Up against them will be France, a much more experienced side who in 2011, 2015 and 2019 reached the quarter-finals, although their greatest success was a third-place finish at Euro 2022.  

Herve Renard is now in charge of the French. The Saudi Arabia coach who beat Argentina at the start of the World Cup in Qatar has ensured the team finished top of Group F after a goalless draw with Jamaica, a 6-3 drubbing of Panama and a 2-1 win over Brazil that saw the Canarinhas crash out of the World Cup.  

Coopers Stadium in Adelaide, Australia, will host this historic match between two teams who promise a match with goals in view of their group stage averages.