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France are bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.

Didier Deschamps could become the first manager to retain it since Italy coach Vittorio Pozzo in 1938.

Nicknamed Il Vecchio Maestro (the Old Master) in coaching circles, Pozzo was considered a visionary of the time and is credited as one of the minds behind the Metodo formation, the earliest example of the 4-3-3 we recognise today.

Yet far from being revered as the only manager to win the men's World Cup twice, Pozzo remains relatively little known. And there is a reason for that.

"There's this slight sort of smell, if you like, after the war, and Pozzo isn't as famous or exulted as he might be because he won his trophies under a fascist regime," explains Italian football expert John Foot in new book How to Win the World Cup.

"He wasn't forced to do that; he participated in that. The players gave the fascist salute and there was a lot of rhetoric around them, so it's a problem in terms of Italy. Do those World Cups even count?"

Read a profile on Pozzo here.

Didier Drogba
Former Ivory Coast striker on BBC One

I like the way Oliver Giroud is playing. There has been a lot of crosses in the tournament and that is because most teams don't know how to defend crosses now because they are used to players cutting in and shooting.

Hundreds of Moroccan football fans have been left devastated as last-minute flight cancellations look set to stop them travelling to Qatar for this game.

Morocco's national airline - Royal Air Maroc - had planned to run seven additional flights.

It made the decision after Morocco's FA promised to give fans 13,000 free tickets to the clash with France.

But on Wednesday, it said Qatari officials had blocked the flights. The reasons are not clear.

Read more here.

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Morocco coach Walid Regragui already knows what it feels like to win a trophy on Qatari soil and to receive a cup from Fifa president Gianni Infantino, and the big question this week is whether he can achieve both again on Sunday.

A suggestion that would have provoked ridicule before the World Cup has become an ever-narrowing possibility after Regragui stunningly steered the Atlas Lions to the last four.

Having already won domestic and continental club titles this year, if the 47-year-old is to lead an African and Arab side to a first World Cup final, then he will have to knock out the country where he grew up and played nearly all his club career.

"I come from the Parisian suburbs," he has previously said.

"We are hungry guys there and love challenges. The more you tell us we can't make it, the more we want to try."

Read more here.

Morocco are the first African side to ever reach a World Cup semi-final.

But the really remarkable thing is that they have beaten the teams ranked second, seventh and ninth in the world to get here. It's no case of getting an easy run to the last four.

They drew with Croatia before beating Belgium and Canada in the group stages.

In the last 16 they dismissed Spain and then Portugal followed in the quarters.

Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's like Romain Saiss is having a fitness test. Ideally he would be within the group. That really isn't a good sign because he is key.

I know they're got Aguerd back who ahs been a big player for them, they have been their best two centre halves. How fit are this Moroccan side going to be? That's a bad sign for them.

France have arguably been the best team at the World Cup so far, beating Australia and Denmark in the groups before a B team lost to Tunisia.

In the last 16 they beat Poland and then edged past England in the quarter-finals.

Rio Ferdinand
Former England defender on BBC One

There's been some great moments, this has been the World Cup of the underdog and Morocco have played a huge role in that.

Sofiane Boufal with his mum after the Portugal game was a heartstring moment, to celebrate with your mum is the stuff of dreams, brilliant. These images will stay with people forever. What an achievement for the families.

Image source, Getty Images

Morocco have only conceded one goal in their eight games under manager Walid Regragui.

And that was an own goal - with Nayef Aguerd putting the ball in his own net against Canada.

Even more remarkably that includes in their 3-0 penalty shootout win over Spain.

Sevilla keeper Bono, who saved two kicks in that shootout, has now kept seven clean sheets in his last eight caps (he missed the group win over Belgium).

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Antoine Griezmann won the Golden Boot at Euro 2016 (with double the goals of anyone else). At the 2018 World Cup he was second top scorer and named third best player in the tournament, as well as crucially winning the tournament.

And now, reinvented as a midfielder in Didier Deschamps' team, he has been the heartbeat of their team in Qatar - with a joint-high three assists.

Is it time to start thinking about Griezmann as a full-on international legend?

Read more here.

Didier Drogba
Former Ivory Coast striker on BBC One

As an African I am so happy to see an African doing so well.

I am supporting Morocco because of my roots but it is going to be difficult. I have a lot of friends in France too but I am sticking with my roots.

BBC World Service

More from Moroccan journalist Amine El Amri speaking on BBC World Service's World Football in Qatar podcast about the relationship between France and Morocco: "France is like an older brother that always got your lunch box or money when you go to school and would always bully you for many, many years when you were a kid. Then when you grow up you are taller and stronger than him he kind of feels jealous.

"There is a special tie with France. It is not like a war-torn relationship like it might have been, like in Algeria for example. Things went really bad when we were fighting for our liberation, but afterwards things got smoother and smoother.

"It is this friendship and brotherhood relationship, sometimes it is shaky, sometimes it is good. Sometimes we understand each other and for 90 mins or so we won't be brothers or friends."

BBC One

Get yer TVs on right now. Build-up is starting.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at Al Bayt Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

It's started.

Those Moroccan whistles, piercing your eardrums. We got our first burst of it as the France players came out to warm up at Al Bayt.

Morocco fans to the right of us, France to the left waving their tricolor flags.

Image source, BBC Sport

Julien Laurens
French football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

It will be a very emotional night at the stadium but also the people of Moroccan descent, who will watch the game in France, and back in Morocco.

The Morocco players will, for sure, have friends and relatives in France - the two countries are so linked. There is such a strong community of Morocco people in France.

It will be a special night, it won't feel like France versus any other country and opposition that we might face at the World Cup.

It will be crazy in France tonight, regardless of who wins.

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

Image source, BBC Sport

The Al Bayt stadium awaits - or the circus tent.

Who will be leaving here the winner? Defending champions France or history makers Morocco.

You get the feeling there could be some real drama ahead…

France manager Didier Deschamps his players had been prepared for the "loud support" the Atlas Lions will have at Al Bayt Stadium.

"I don't like the term hostile for the environment because that is negative," he said. "They have great support, which is useful to them.

"It is very noisy and my staff have told the players about that. It is not going to score you goals, but it is great to have such loud support.

"When you prepare for a match you have to prepare for the atmosphere - my players know what to expect."

Image source, BBC Sport

Look who’s just arrived…

When you have Kylian Mbappe, you’ve always got to fancy yourselves.

The France fans are much more understated prior to kick off here. Walking around the stadium almost serenely. It’s as though they expect another final.

BBC World Service

Moroccan journalist Amine El Amri speaking on BBC World Service's World Football in Qatar podcast about the ties between France and Morocco: "It means a lot to play France for us Moroccans, but I don't think it means anything special for the players and coaching staff, at least not before the game.

"It would be a huge error to approach this game the avenge mentality or with something to prove more against France than Spain or Portugal. The context, outside the pitch, is great and historical and it has epic proportions but on the pitch it would be an error to approach it differently.

"It means a huge deal to the fans. but it doesn't really have to mean anything to the players or coach. They have to be in a bubble to play really good football in the World Cup.

"So far we have seen the mentality, particularly in key moments in the game, mean a lot so far. If you are letting in any diversions it could be lethal for you, especially in a World Cup semi-final."

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

The atmosphere is building...