France advance to World Cup semi-finals after defeating Morocco
France secured their place in the World Cup semi-finals by overcoming a determined Morocco side with a Kylian Mbappé goal and an assist for Ousmane Dembélé. The match, a repeat of the 2022 semi-final, saw France face a resilient Moroccan defence, ultimately breaking through in the second half.
The encounter took place in Foxborough, USA, on Thursday, July 9, as part of the quarter-final stage of the 2026 World Cup. Despite France’s attacking prowess, Morocco’s organised defence and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou initially kept the score level.
First-half resistance from Morocco
In the first half, France created numerous opportunities, with Mbappé missing a penalty in the 26th minute after being fouled by Noussair Mazraoui. Bounou, known as a penalty specialist, saved the shot, marking his first penalty save for his country outside of shootouts. The delay for the VAR check before the penalty was noted as being lengthy.
Morocco’s goalkeeper continued to be a key figure, pushing away a header from Dayot Upamecano and saving an effort from Desiré Doué. Lucas Digne also struck the bar with a shot from outside the box. Despite France’s 13 chances in the first half, Morocco managed to hold them at bay, with their first attempt on goal coming in the final minute of first-half injury time.
The match was described as having an attritional first 45 minutes, with Morocco having been level at half-time in four of their five games at the tournament. This defensive solidity was a hallmark of their campaign, having conceded only two goals in seven matches at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Second-half breakthrough and progression
The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark by Kylian Mbappé. After a loose clearance, the ball was played into the box for Mbappé, who, despite the tight space and the presence of defender Issa Diop, managed to strike the ball with a looping trajectory, scoring a brilliant goal. This effort saw him draw level with Lionel Messi at the top of the 2026 World Cup scoring charts.
Just five minutes later, France extended their lead. Ousmane Dembélé drilled a shot from just outside the box, with Mazraoui interrupting Bounou’s view, leading to the second goal. The goalkeeper got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
Didier Deschamps’ side demonstrated their ability to grind through the knockout phase, similar to the West Germany team of 1990. Their pressing game proved effective, limiting Morocco’s options and ultimately leading to their goals.
Morocco had made a change to their line-up due to an injury to Ismael Saibari, with Chemsdine Talbi coming in on the left and Bilal El Khannouss moving to the centre. However, France’s strong defence and midfield limited Talbi’s impact.
France will now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the quarter-final tie between Spain and Belgium. That match is scheduled to take place on Friday in Los Angeles, with the semi-final against France set for Tuesday, July 14, in Dallas.
The French team’s performance showcased their attacking quality and resilience, making them a formidable opponent in the tournament. They were able to withdraw players towards the end of the match to keep them fresh for the upcoming challenge in Dallas.
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Source: theguardian.com