Kylian Mbappé missed a penalty, scored a stunning opener and set up Ousmane Dembélé for a second as France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the World Cup semi-finals. The win extends France’s relentless run in the tournament, with Mbappé netting his eighth goal of the competition.
For much of the first half, a French goal seemed only a matter of time. Mbappé was tripped in the box by Noussair Mazraoui after being released by Michael Olise, following a dispossession by Désiré Doué. The VAR check and the wait for goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to return to his line took three minutes and 10 seconds – an inexplicably long delay for a straightforward decision. Perhaps spooked, Mbappé struck his penalty limply to Bounou’s left, and the keeper saved easily. It was the first time Bounou had saved a penalty for Morocco outside of shootouts.
“Kylian Mbappé scored a stunning goal and set up another as France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the World Cup semi-finals.”
Bounou then pushed away a Dayot Upamecano header and kept out a Doué effort low to his right, while Lucas Digne smacked a drive against the bar. By the time Morocco had their first effort on goal – a free kick slashed wide in the final minute of first-half injury time – France had already created 13 chances.
The breakthrough came when Mbappé produced a goal from nowhere, curling a mesmerising strike past Bounou. He then turned provider, teeing up Dembélé for the second. Mbappé went off with 13 minutes remaining to a deserved ovation, the game drifting after his exit.
Morocco, who had beaten France in the 2022 semi-final, defended with great organisation and concentration, but as the Guardian noted: “France have such attacking quality that simply surviving isn’t really a viable option.” France now advance to the semi-finals, their form suggesting they could be difficult to stop in their quest for a third World Cup in 28 years.