Morocco's World Cup dreams collide with France's strength and Mbappe's brilliance

Image caption, French players celebrate Ousmane Dembele's goal against Morocco

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France, champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, ended Morocco's dream for the second consecutive time in the global tournament, defeating them 2-0 on Thursday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston, to reach the World Cup semifinals held in North America.

France, which eliminated Morocco from the semifinals of the last edition in Qatar with the same score, owes its victory to its captain and all-time top scorer in the finals, Kylian Mbappe, who scored the first goal in the 60th minute and set up the second for Ousmane Dembele (66), having missed a penalty in the 28th minute.

France will face Spain or Belgium in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas; they meet on Friday in Los Angeles.

France ends Morocco's dream again, winning 2-0 and reaching the semifinals

Mbappe increased his tally to eight goals in the current edition, catching up with top scorer Argentine Lionel Messi (Mbappe leads with three assists to Messi's one), and narrowed the gap between them in all-time World Cup goals to one (20 vs. 21).

In contrast, Dembele raised his tally to five goals in the current edition.

France maintained its superiority over Morocco, having never lost in seven meetings (five wins, two draws), the most recent being the 2-0 win in the 2022 World Cup semifinals, exactly about three years and seven months ago on December 14, 2022.

France has advanced in seven of nine quarterfinal matches, losing only two.

Morocco did not perform at its usual level, clearly affected by the absence of its injured striker Ismael Saibari (hamstring), and managed only to hold out through the first half before conceding two deceptive shots from Mbappe and Dembele.

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France was the better side, dominating possession and creating several clear scoring chances, but goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stood firm, including a penalty from the 'Blues' captain and all-time top scorer, Real Madrid star Mbappe.

France created four scoring chances in the first 18 minutes, including one on target, compared to none for Morocco, before continuing its dominance without effectiveness until the second half.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui made two changes to the lineup that beat Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16 in Houston, bringing in defender Anass Salah Eddine for Redouan Halhal (who had replaced the injured Chadi Riad), and Shamseddine Talbi for the tournament's top scorer Ismael Saibari (injured hamstring).

In contrast, Deschamps made one change to the lineup that narrowly beat Paraguay 1-0, bringing in Paris Saint-Germain winger Desire Doue for his club teammate Bradley Barcola.

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Missed penalty

Image caption, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saves a penalty taken by Kylian Mbappe

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France's first attempt was a powerful shot from Mbappe from outside the area, saved by Bounou for a corner (4). Dayot Upamecano almost capitalized with a header from close range from Dembele's cross, but Bounou cleared before the defense scrambled it away (4). Dembele's header from Lucas Digne's cross went over the bar (18).

Mbappe won a penalty after being fouled by Mazraoui inside the area (25), and took it himself, but Bounou saved it (28).

Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has faced nine penalties in the World Cup (including shootouts), conceding two, saving four, and seeing three go wide, according to Opta.

Mbappe opened the scoring with a shot from inside the area from Doue's pass, placing it into the far left corner beyond Bounou (60).

Dembele doubled France's lead with a second goal after receiving a pass from Mbappe, cleverly shooting from outside the area into the left side of Bounou's goal (66).

Morocco's first shot on target came from Ounahi's powerful strike from outside the area, saved by Maignan before the defense cleared for a corner (83). From the corner, Hakimi played it to Naoufal Aynaoui, who headed wide (84).

"I'm fine"

Image caption, Kylian Mbappe before being substituted

Mbappe commented after leaving the pitch injured in the second half: "I'm fine, I took a hit on the ankle, but everything is fine."

On whether it was difficult to see his Moroccan friend Achraf Hakimi lose, he replied: "It will be harder when I see him in the locker room, because then we become human again and we become friends. There is no emotion here; I'm here to win, and he was here to win too. But certainly, when I see him again in the locker room, it will affect me because he is a very close friend of mine."

Image caption, Frenchman Ousmane Dembele celebrates his goal against Morocco

On his goal, Dembele said: "Two or three minutes before my goal, Kylian told me to stay central. He made a great run that opened up the space for me. I really wanted to shoot and see the ball go in."

In turn, Morocco coach Regragui commented: "We have to admit we faced a very good opponent. We had a lot of difficulty in the first half. In the second, we defended better and were calmer in possession. At one point, we felt we were better. Then the goal came from a loose ball situation where some players stopped thinking it was a handball."

He added: "After the goal, it became difficult, but I think we need to continue our work and focus on the basics. When there are injured and absent players, we need more options on the bench."

For his part, France coach Didier Deschamps, one of only three men to win the World Cup as both player and coach, said: "I think this is three consecutive (semifinal appearances), which in itself is good. It seems logical and natural, but you have to work for it. Of course I have great players, otherwise we wouldn't be here, but it's good. The match was complicated today due to the missed penalty and the chances we didn't convert."

Deschamps, who will leave his post with the 'Blues' after a 14-year tenure during which he won the 2018 title and reached the 2022 final, continued: "When it's Kylian, no problem; he never doubts, even if he misses a chance before scoring as well. That's great. We are where we wanted to be, so we'll recover well and then see our opponent tomorrow."

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