France has advanced to the semi-finals of the World Cup after defeating Morocco 2-0 in Boston. The match saw goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, securing France’s place in the next stage of the tournament. The victory came despite an early penalty miss by Mbappe.
Mbappe, who also serves as France’s captain, was awarded a penalty in the first half. However, his attempt was saved by Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou. Undeterred, Mbappe later scored a goal himself and assisted Dembele for France’s second goal after the break.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
The opening goal for France came around the hour mark, with Mbappe finding the far corner of the net. Shortly after, Dembele’s shot managed to get past Bounou, doubling France’s lead. This quick succession of goals proved decisive in the quarter-final encounter.
Morocco, playing without the injured Ismael Saibari, struggled to create significant attacking opportunities throughout the match. Despite their efforts, they were unable to find the back of the net and were eliminated from the tournament at the quarter-final stage.
Early in the match, France had several chances to score. Dayot Upamecano missed an opportunity, and Desire Doue also had a chance. Lucas Digne hit the crossbar with a shot from distance, but the team’s dominance was evident, even before the goals arrived.
Towards the end of the match, Mbappe was seen in the dugout with an icepack on his right ankle, following a challenge by Diop. However, he later appeared to be in good spirits, celebrating with his teammates after the final whistle, suggesting the injury was minor.
Player Performances and Tournament Impact
Kylian Mbappe’s performance was central to France’s success, bringing his total goal tally for the tournament to eight. He also has three assists in the World Cup. His contributions have positioned him as a leading contender for both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards.
Mbappe commented on his ankle, stating, “I have a minor ankle injury, but I am completely fine. [Jean-Philippe] Mateta was in a better position to play the remaining minutes of the match and was fitter at that moment. That is all that happened.” This indicates a precautionary substitution rather than a serious concern.
Morocco’s head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, reflected on his team’s performance and future prospects. He acknowledged the disappointment of the loss but expressed optimism for the future, stating, “The future will be bright if we continue like this, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t want to win today.”
Ouahbi also highlighted the broader significance of the team’s participation, noting, “We know we represent more than just one country. We represent the Moroccan people, and many countries across Asia and Africa. Many people see themselves in this team, and we’ll keep working to win titles in the future.”
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
With this victory, France is now preparing to face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals. This marks France’s pursuit of a third consecutive final appearance in the World Cup.
The match was played on Thursday, 9 July 2026.
Source: skysports.com
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