France moved one step closer to another FIFA World Cup final after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarter finals on Thursday. Captain Kylian Mbappe delivered a standout performance by scoring a brilliant second half goal, helping his side secure a place in the World Cup semi finals.
The French captain had a mixed evening after missing a first half penalty that was comfortably saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. However, Mbappe responded in impressive fashion just after the hour mark. He curled a superb strike into the net from inside the penalty area, scoring his 20th World Cup goal and becoming the youngest player to reach 20 World Cup appearances at the age of 27.
Only six minutes after Mbappe opened the scoring, Ousmane Dembele doubled France’s advantage. The winger took advantage of space created by Mbappe’s movement before firing a low shot past the goalkeeper. The goal marked Dembele’s fifth of the tournament and ensured France advanced comfortably.
France dominated much of the match, creating several chances while keeping Morocco under constant pressure. The North African side struggled without injured forward Ismael Saibari and failed to register a shot on target until the closing stages of the match.
France coach Didier Deschamps praised his team’s determination, saying reaching a third consecutive World Cup semi final reflects the consistency and quality of his squad. He also confirmed Mbappe was substituted late in the game after receiving a minor knock to his ankle but remained optimistic about his condition.
The victory also saw Mbappe equal Hugo Lloris’ record for the most World Cup appearances by a French player. With eight goals in the tournament, he now shares the Golden Boot lead with Lionel Messi and sits just one goal behind the Argentine on the all time World Cup scoring list.
France will now face either Belgium or Spain in the semi finals as they continue their pursuit of another World Cup title.
