France secured a place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a convincing 2-0 victory over Morocco, powered by another standout performance from captain Kylian Mbappe. The win keeps France on course for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance.
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After missing a first-half penalty, Mbappe responded in style by scoring a brilliant curling effort in the 60th minute. Ousmane Dembele doubled France’s advantage six minutes later with a composed low finish, sealing the result and setting up a semi-final clash against either Belgium or Spain.
Mbappe’s goal was his 20th in World Cup history, drawing him level with Lionel Messi as the tournament’s joint-leading scorer on eight goals. The 27-year-old also became the youngest player to reach 20 World Cup appearances and equalled Hugo Lloris’ French record for most World Cup matches.
France dominated much of the contest, creating several early opportunities. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou denied Mbappe from the penalty spot in the 28th minute and produced another fine save earlier in the match. Lucas Digne also struck the crossbar before halftime as France maintained constant pressure.
Morocco, missing injured forward Ismael Saibari, struggled to threaten the French defence and failed to register a shot on target until the closing stages. Despite their determined effort, the Atlas Lions were unable to repeat their memorable run to the semi-finals in the 2022 tournament.
France coach Didier Deschamps praised his team for overcoming a difficult challenge and maintaining their impressive momentum in the competition. He also confirmed that Mbappe was substituted late in the game after taking a knock to his ankle but expressed confidence about the team’s progress.
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Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged France’s superiority while highlighting his side’s continued development. With France now among the final four, the reigning football powerhouse moves another step closer to lifting another World Cup trophy.