France captain Hugo Lloris says "it was not easy to find the words" when he texted Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane after his side had knocked England out of the World Cup in Qatar.

Three Lions skipper Kane missed a penalty against goalkeeper Lloris during France's 2-1 win on Saturday.

They will reunite as team-mates on 26 December, when Spurs face Brentford in the Premier League.

"It's a difficult time for the England national team and Harry," said Lloris.

"We had a text after the game. It was not easy to find the words. He needed some time to rest.

"I think he can be proud of what he has done for the national team.

"In football history, many top players have missed penalties in their career - Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo - but I have no doubt Harry will keep his chin up and help Tottenham and the national team to shine."

Howard Nurse
BBC Sport in Doha

Fifa has provided three Books of Condolence in the Al Bayt Stadium media centre in memory of the three members of the media who have sadly passed away while working on the World Cup in Qatar.

ITV Sport technical director Roger Pearce, Qatari photo-journalist Khaled Al-Musallam and American football journalist Grant Wahl are all being remembered tonight as media representatives from around the globe leave their messages of condolence.

The three books will be passed on to the respective families in the new year.

Image source, BBC Sport

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

Image source, BBC Sport

There has been a real party atmosphere in Doha today with Morocco fans enjoying their team making history.

First the Souq was rammed, then the fans lucky enough to get tickets for this evening’s semi-final have arrived at Al Bayt in their coachloads.

‘Of course we can win,’ said one fan as I asked could they make the final. ‘We will win the final too!’

Confidence. Love it.

Rushdi Abualouf
BBC News, Gaza City

Palestinians were delighted when the Morocco team waved a Palestinian flag after their victory against Spain last week. Now in Gaza, there is unprecedented demand for Moroccan flags.

When I visit Gaza City’s best-known flag supplier, Tareq Abu Dayyeh, he starts rummaging around desperately before finally offering me a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh, or scarf, bearing the Moroccan colours.

“We just weren’t anticipating such demand, because people didn’t expect an Arab team to go this far in the World Cup,” he explains.

Nearby, outside Said Sayyel stadium, by the mid-afternoon there were already queues to watch the Morocco-France match on big screens. Organisers expect the biggest crowds since the beginning of the tournament.

“Palestine is in the heart of the Moroccan national team and they’re in our hearts. We hope they win the World Cup," Bilal tells me.

In the past month in Qatar, the Palestinian flag has been held up by Arab fans and some non-Arabs. Some here have joked that Palestine is the 33rd team to have made it to the tournament.

“Over there, in an Arab capital, the Palestine flag is everywhere,” Bilal goes on. “The support of the Arab people repaired our broken hearts after the recent normalisation agreements with Israel. The Arab regimes don’t represent the people.”

“Today, we are Moroccan Palestinians," he concludes.

And the positive attention around this World Cup is winning new Palestinian football fans.

Before the Morocco-Spain match, a man in his mid-40s watching in a Gaza seaside cafe asked me how long the match would be.

“Don’t be surprised,” he said. “This is the first time in my life I’ve watched a match, but Morocco deserve to win.”

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Al Bayt Stadium

The excitement surrounding this game has been building all day in Doha. Flights arriving from the airport, Morocco fans flooding the area and this Al Bayt Stadium will be a sea of Moroccan colours tonight.

This will be a very special occasion for Morocco, the great surprise of this World Cup and the first African side to reach the semi-final.

Expect deafening noise and a fantastic atmosphere.

Here was how Argentina fans reacted last night to reaching the World Cup final, their second in three tournos.

Image source, .

A security guard at the Lusail Stadium has died after falling from the World Cup venue in Qatar after Argentina's quarter-final win over the Netherlands.

Kenyan John Njau Kibue was initially said to be in a stable but critical condition - however, he died after three days in hospital.

Qatari organisers say they "are investigating the circumstances leading to the fall as a matter of urgency".

The 24-year-old's sister told CNN they have not been given an explanation.

Lusail is where Sunday's final will be played.

Read more here.

Surprisingly (to me anyway) 13 outfield players have made more World Cup appearances than any goalkeeper.

Lionel Messi and Lothar Matthaus top the list on 25 appearances.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Al Bayt Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

The atmosphere was building in Souq Waqif this afternoon where Morocco fans had gathered before tonight's huge semi-final against France.

This is the biggest game in the north African side's history and supporters have been chanting "Seer, Seer Maghreb (go, go Morocco)" and "Dima Maghreb (forever Morocco)" in the square.

TV crews from all around the world had been speaking to travelling fans, who were enjoying tea and shisha as they look to keep their nerves in check.

The result could go either way but one thing is for certain, Morocco fans are going to be bouncing in Al Bayt tonight.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, .

Read this nice profile of Morocco's players.

• Bono and the Moroccan Maldini - The case for the defence
• 'Where does that boy come from?'- Hard-working midfield
• Like Giroud for France - Energy in attack

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, Reuters

The Palestinian flag has been a key feature of the Moroccan team’s on-field celebrations – a move which has drawn praise from some broadcasters in the Middle East and North Africa.

After the win over Portugal, midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri posted a picture on Instagram showing him draped in the flag. The post carried the single-word English caption "Freedom" and a dove emoji.

It’s an image that has been repeated among supporters on the streets, as seen on Moroccan state TV.

This makes or an interesting addition to story of the tournament, where an Arab nation is using the platform of a global showpiece on Middle Eastern soil to raise an issue that means a great deal to many in the region.

It takes on extra significance given that the Moroccan government normalised diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 – a move that was met with some disquiet in the country.

After the win against Portugal, state-run al-Aoula TV broadcast reactions from the occupied Palestinian Territories, with the presenter noting: "The Gaza Strip during this tournament has turned into a part of Morocco."

The same channel also carried reactions from the Moroccan community in Israel, who were said to have "followed this game with total enthusiasm and sincerity, wishing victory for the national Moroccan team".

Some fans have been staying on a docked cruise ship because Qatar has so few hotel rooms.

Find more about that in this video...

Three lads having a great old time.

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

Incredible scenes in the Souq this afternoon.

There are estimates up to 40,000 Moroccans have made the trip to Doha and it really wouldn't surprise me.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Al Bayt Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

France make two changes from the side that sent England home at the quarter-final stage.

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate and Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana come into the side.

Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot are the players to drop out.

Olivier Giroud leads the line once more, supported by the in-form Antoine Griezmann and the irrepressible Kylian Mbappe.

France XI: Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Konate, Fofana, Hernandez, Tchouameni, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud.

Image source, BBC Sport

Morocco have been boosted by the news that West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd and Bayern Munich full-back Noussair Mazraoui return to the starting XI after missing out from the quarter-final victory over Portugal.

Valladolid's Jawad El Yamiq retains his place in the side meaning Walid Regragui's side may line up with five at the back.

Yahya Attiat-Allah and Selim Amallah are the players to drop to the bench, Striker Walid Cheddira is suspended after his red card in the previous round.

Morocco XI: Bounou, Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, El Yamiq, Mazraoui, Amrabat, Ounahi, Ziyech, Boufal, En-Nesyri.

Qatar-owned Paris St-Germain already have Lionel Messi in the final.

Will France's Kylian Mbappe or Morocco's Achraf Hakimi be joining him?

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

Image source, BBC Sport

It’s a huge day for Morocco.

If the Souq is anything to go by, Al Bayt Stadium is going to be absolutely bouncing.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

When the final whistle blew on Morocco’s victory over Portugal on Saturday, the state broadcaster al-Aoula immediately dropped its schedule to show scenes of celebrations taking place across the country... for several hours.

Drone footage over the capital Rabat showed thousands of Moroccans on the streets and squares revelling in the historic moment.

It was a scene echoed in cities across the country, from Marrakech to Casablanca, and even Laayoune – the capital of the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

A presenter said: "The victory gave the values on which we were raised a thousand meanings: Faith, parents’ blessings and attachment to national symbols.

"This is the kingdom of Morocco: History, civilisation, a people, culture and heritage beyond description."

One news website, external took it a step further, saying the team’s success was emblematic of Morocco’s" geo-strategic gains and growing soft power" on the international stage.

This morning, TV and newspapers are dominated by the semi-final clash with France.

The front page of the leading Assahra al-Maghreb newspaper reads: "Lions, we are with you until victory: Another historic point for Morocco", while Le Matin says: "The Atlas Lions are determined to honour their appointment with history."

State TV ran a 10-minute trailer for the tonight’s game, soundtracked by rousing music, ululating and a stirring voiceover.

An article on the news website Lakome said Morocco's achievements at the World Cup have ignited a "sense of optimism and pride in the hearts of Moroccans that made them forget… their difficult economic conditions".

It included an interview with a man saying the campaign had "made us forget everything else...the high prices and everything. We want them to move forward. My mood has changed, praise God!"

Julien Laurens
French football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

The Morocco fans have created an amazing atmosphere. It will feel like they are organising and hosting the game tonight. It will be fascinating.

The France players are used to hostile, though. When you play at that level you are used to hostile crowds from your club. This is nothing new.

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

It's been all Morocco in the Souq today...

Even the Metro helpers have been getting into the spirit.