France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, powered by second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. The win sends the defending champions back to the semifinals for the second consecutive tournament, where they will face the winner of the Spain-Belgium match scheduled for Friday.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the 51st minute with a precise strike from inside the box, beating Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. The goal was Mbappé's eighth of the tournament, tying him with Argentina's Lionel Messi for the lead in the World Cup scoring race. Dembélé doubled the lead in the 66th minute with a low shot that slipped past Bounou despite the keeper getting a hand on it.
Morocco, which became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals in 2022, employed a defensive strategy similar to the one that frustrated France in their previous meeting. The Atlas Lions focused on containing Mbappé and limiting space in their own half, a tactic that kept the score level at halftime. However, France's persistent pressure eventually broke through in the second half.
The match saw a tense moment in the first half when Mbappé was awarded a penalty kick after a foul in the box. The referee delayed the kick while awaiting a VAR review, forcing Mbappé to repeat his routine multiple times. Bounou ultimately saved the penalty, diving to his left to deny the French star and keep the match scoreless at the break.
France dominated possession throughout the match, with Morocco registering its first real scoring chance only in stoppage time of the first half. Les Bleus maintained control after halftime, creating several opportunities before Mbappé finally found the net. Dembélé's goal came after Morocco was forced to push forward in search of an equalizer, leaving gaps that France exploited effectively.
The victory continues France's strong run in the tournament, with Didier Deschamps' squad demonstrating both defensive solidity and attacking firepower. Mbappé's performance further cements his status as one of the tournament's standout players, with 20 career World Cup goals to his name. Messi, who broke the all-time World Cup goals record earlier in the group stage, now has 21 goals.
France will play its semifinal match on July 14 at 3 p.m. in Dallas. The opponent will be determined by the outcome of the Spain-Belgium quarterfinal, with Spain yet to concede a goal in the tournament and Belgium coming off a victory over the United States in the round of 16. France's path to the semifinals has included wins over Paraguay in the round of 16 and Morocco in the quarterfinals.
The match marked the second time France has eliminated Morocco from a World Cup, following their 2-0 victory in the 2022 semifinals. Morocco's historic run in that tournament, where they became the first African team to reach the semifinals, ended with that defeat. This year, the Atlas Lions again fell short against the defending champions, but their defensive organization and resilience earned praise from observers.
France's victory sets up a potential clash with Spain, which has impressed with its defensive record, or Belgium, which has shown attacking flair. Regardless of the opponent, France will enter the semifinals as a favorite, having won the World Cup in 2018 and reached the final in 2022. The team's depth, with players like Mbappé and Dembélé providing goals, gives Deschamps multiple options in attack.
The semifinal match in Dallas promises to be a high-stakes encounter, with France aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962. The tournament has seen several upsets, but France has remained consistent, blending experience with youthful talent. Mbappé's form will be crucial as Les Bleus seek to advance to the final and defend their title.
