India, July 8 -- The France-Morocco quarter-final is a number of things. It is a rematch from four years ago but one round earlier. A contest between club mates: Achraf Hakimi and France's five from Paris St-Germain (PSG), Kylian Mbappe and his Real Madrid teammate Brahim Diaz. Between Ligue 1 players of which there are 13 across rosters. Between players born in the same country: of the 99 in this World Cup born in France, six are with Morocco.

It is one few would have predicted when the World Cup began: a contest between midfield engines Adrien Rabiot and Ayyoub Bouaddi. They wear their hair long, are separated by 13 years and were born a little over 50km apart in France.

It was by shifting Michael Olise to the centre behind Mbappe tha...