Mbappe and Dembele send France past Morocco and into the World Cup semi-finals

France are back in the World Cup semi-finals, and once more it was Morocco left to wonder what might have been. Two second-half goals inside six minutes, from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, settled a quarter-final in Foxborough that France had controlled almost from the first whistle. The 2-0 scoreline flattered Morocco, who barely threatened Mike Maignan’s goal across the 90 minutes.

It is the third World Cup running that France have reached the last four. For Morocco, it was the end of another deep run and, painfully, a repeat of the 2022 semi-final in Qatar, when the same opponent ended the Atlas Lions’ dream.

Bounou keeps Morocco level, then the dam breaks

The early drama went Morocco’s way. France won a penalty in the first half and Mbappe stepped up, only for Yassine Bounou to guess correctly and push the spot-kick away. It was the kind of moment that can turn a tie, and for a while Morocco looked like they might make it count, sitting deep and inviting France onto them.

The resistance held until the hour mark. On 60 minutes Mbappe made amends for the penalty miss, curling a finish beyond Bounou to finally break through. Six minutes later the tie was as good as over. Mbappe turned provider, sliding the ball to Dembele, who beat Bounou low to make it 2-0.

France’s captain leads from the front

The night belonged to Mbappe, penalty miss and all. His goal was his eighth of the tournament, moving him back to the front of the Golden Boot race, and the manner of France’s win said plenty about the gap between the sides. Didier Deschamps’ team created the better openings throughout and never looked like conceding once they were ahead.

Morocco could not repeat the heroics that had carried them past the Netherlands and Canada in the earlier rounds. Bounou did what he could, but the goalkeeper was left exposed once France raised their level after the break.

A semi-final awaits

There was one late scare for Deschamps. Mbappe was taken off on 77 minutes holding his ankle after going down with what looked like a non-contact problem, and he spent the closing stages with an ice pack on the bench. He was up and celebrating with his team-mates at full time, which should ease any concern before the last four.

France now wait on the winner of Spain against Belgium to learn their semi-final opponent. Deschamps has taken France to the final in each of the last two World Cups, winning in 2018 and losing on penalties to Argentina in 2022, and this side looks well placed to go close again.

For Morocco, the focus will shift to what has been another statement tournament for African football, even if the last-eight exit stings. Their run showed they belong among the game’s stronger nations, but France, on this evidence, remain a level above.

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