France vs Morocco LIVE: Michael Olise appeal rejected by Fifa as Atlas Lions hit with injury blow

Lionel Messi has retaken the lead in the golden boot race from Kylian Mbappe, while Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are making a charge as well – can Mbappe re-establish control at the top of the standings tonight?

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 8 goals (1 assist)

2. Kylian Mbappe (France), 7 goals, (2 assists)

3. Erling Haaland (Norway), 7 goals (0 assists)

4. Harry Kane (England), 6 goals (1 assist)

5. Ousmane Dembele (France), 4 goals (2 assists)

= 6. Vinicius Jr (Brazil), 4 goals (1 assist)

= 6. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain), 4 goals (1 assist)

= 6. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), 4 goals (1 assist)

= 6. Julian Quinones (Mexico), 4 goals (1 assist)

= 6 Jude Bellingham (England, 4 goals (1 assist)

This World Cup has produced some of the most dramatic football in years, from Messi’s tearful embrace with Lionel Scaloni after Argentina’s last-16 comeback against Egypt, to England’s rollercoaster win over Mexico. But alongside the drama on the pitch, a much bigger story has been building around Fifa itself.

From Gianni Infantino resignation calls to accusations of a “fixed” World Cup, Miguel Delaney will be answering all of your questions between 4pm and 5pm today – submit yours below:

There is a case for putting his personal tally at either 13 or 14 – depending on which category games decided on penalty shootouts belong in – when his role as the captain of the 1998 Les Bleus teams is included. France have played in four World Cup finals: two under Deschamps, one skippered by him, one with the remnants of a team he had led from the midfield. He is now a game from the exit or three from the status of the greatest World Cup manager of all.

There has rarely been a player who has so quickly become one of the best in the world.

Michael Olise’s World Cup has offered something rarely witnessed in football, and it reflects a shift that England may have to take heed of, writes Miguel Delaney.

This will be Didier Deschamps’ 25th game as a manager at the World Cup, equalling the record total of Helmut Schön (25 between 1966 and 1978).

Morocco are unbeaten in this edition of the World Cup.

Only twice has an African team gone unbeaten in their opening five games of a World Cup, with Morocco doing so on both occasions (2022 and 2026).

Can they improve against France, the team that ended their run in 2022?

France collected three yellow cards in their previous round during a testy match against Paraguay.

The South American side received none.

Didier Deschamps was asked for his thoughts on the standard of refereeing at the World Cup.

“It is out of our control,” he said.

“I trust the refereeing. … Some refereeing decisions may lead to discussions. It really depends on everyone’s opinion.

“Our opponent is Morocco, not the referee. The referee is there to apply fairly the laws of the game.”

Didier Deschamps is leaving his position as France manager at the end of the World Cup campaign and with the team now in the knockout rounds any match could be his last.

But he is not thinking about stepping away just yet and has his sights set on beating Morocco tonight.

“Thank you for your concerns. But I do not think about it,” he told the media when asked what he will do after France go out.

“The last game could have been the last one. In my head, with the technical staff, we want to win. That’s the objective.

“In a football game there are many possibilities when it comes to [the[ result. … I’m focused on the Moroccan team so we can win that game.”

France are proving their worth as ‘one of the best attacking teams ever’ and, as Miguel Delaneywrites, they look primed to go all the way at the 2026 World Cup

With only eight teams left in the World Cup the odds have shortened on potential winners.

France have been one of the favourites to win the competition since the beginning but England’s victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium has given them a boost.

Check out the latest odds for who can win the World Cup: