France beat Morocco 2-0 in a World Cup quarter-final as Kylian Mbappé's curled strike on the hour and Ousmane Dembélé's 66th-minute finish secured a place in the last four; Mbappé shrugged off a first-half penalty saved by Yassine Bounou to deliver when it mattered, leaving France to await a semi-final opponent of Spain or Belgium.
France 2-0 Morocco — Mbappé and Dembélé send Les Bleus into the World Cup semi-finals
France progressed to the World Cup last four with a composed 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring with a curled effort around the hour mark and Ousmane Dembélé added a second six minutes later to settle the tie.
Key moments: goals, penalty and turning points
28th minute — Mbappé had an early penalty saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, a moment that could have swung momentum. 60th minute — Mbappé recovered, cutting inside and delivering a precise curled shot from just inside the box to break the deadlock. 66th minute — Dembélé doubled France’s advantage with a low, driven finish, killing the match’s competitive tension.
Mbappé’s performance: resilience under the microscope
Mbappé’s penalty miss might have been a psychological blow, but his response was the defining narrative. Scoring the opener after the half-hour mark showed mental strength and finishing quality — traits France will need as opponents grow sterner. His contributions continue to make him the focal point of Les Bleus’ attack, but France’s win also highlighted the team’s supporting cast stepping up when required.
Tactical takeaways: balance, control and Morocco’s limitations
France combined patient possession with bursts of vertical speed, exploiting spaces when Morocco pushed forward. Morocco offered moments of threat on the break but lacked the cutting edge in the final third to punish France’s occasional positional lapses. Defensively, France were organized enough to neutralize Moroccan rhythm, while their substitutions provided fresh energy and defensive reassurance.
What this means next: a semi-final against Spain or Belgium
The victory sets up a last-four clash with either Spain or Belgium, a matchup that will test France’s tactical flexibility. Expect France to emphasize game management and quicker transitions, relying on both Mbappé’s finishing and Dembélé’s ability to stretch defenses. For Morocco, the exit is disappointing but not demoralizing — the team reinforced its status as a difficult opponent and gained valuable experience on the global stage.
Bottom line
France advanced by blending individual brilliance with collective discipline.
France reach World Cup semis but Mbappe's late limp raises fitness alarm
Mbappé’s comeback from a missed penalty to score the opener encapsulates why he remains central to France’s ambitions, and Dembélé’s timely strike underscored the squad depth that separates contenders from pretenders at this level.
The Star
