France’s Kylian Mbappe (10), right, celebrates scoring the opening goal throughout the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
FOXBOROUGH–Kylian Mbappe recovered from having a first-half penalty saved to attain an impressive opener that set France on their technique to a 2-0 win over Morocco of their World Cup quarterfinal showdown on Thursday.
Mbappe’s weak spot-kick was easily saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, but he made up for that by producing an excellent curling finish to make it 1-0 on the hour mark.
That was Mbappe’s eighth goal on the tournament, moving him level again with Lionel Messi within the race for the Golden Boot, before he got here off late on and watched the ultimate minutes with an ice pack around his right ankle.
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Before exiting, he arrange Ousmane Dembele to run through and settle the competition watched by 63,811 on the Gillette Stadium, as France knocked Morocco out, just as they did in 2022.
Their 2-0 win 4 years ago in Qatar got here within the semi-finals, and this time the victory for Les Bleus takes them through to the last 4. They may face Spain or Belgium in Dallas next Tuesday.
France wish to reach a 3rd consecutive World Cup final of their last tournament before long-serving coach Didier Deschamps stands down.
Winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, it has felt like they’ve eased through to a different semi-final they usually were too strong for a Moroccan team lacking firepower within the absence of the injured Ismael Saibari.
Mbappe is one in every of the best goal-scorers of his generation, and the World Cup continues to bring the easiest out of him.
After netting braces within the group-stage wins over Senegal and Iraq, in addition to the last-32 defeat of Sweden, he got the one goal from the penalty spot against Paraguay within the last round.
He has now scored 20 goals in 20 World Cup appearances, inside one goal of Messi’s overall tournament record of 21.
More might have been expected from Morocco, which had more of the group behind it but lacked a innovative in attack as France kept a 3rd clean sheet in as many knockout games.
Dembele also on track
France’s Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal throughout the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Nevertheless, they’ve loads of exciting young talents — including former France Under-21 captain Ayyoub Bouaddi of their midfield — and will certainly be a force to be reckoned with again once they co-host the following World Cup in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal.
On Thursday, they were just the most recent team to search out containing Mbappe at a World Cup to be an unattainable task.
The Real Madrid star provoked the penalty as he was scythed down in the world by Noussair Mazraoui after a fast breakaway within the twenty fifth minute.
Argentinian referee Facundo Tello immediately pointed to the spot, although a review was needed to rule out a foul on Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi within the build-up.
Possibly the wait got to Mbappe, whose kick was uncharacteristically weak and simply stopped. It was a reminder that he stays human, identical to Messi who has squandered two penalties at this World Cup.
The superb Bounou continuously kept France at bay in the primary half, notably tipping a Desire Doue shot across the post after Bouaddi was robbed of the ball.
Lucas Digne crashed a shot onto the highest of the bar from distance because the opening half ended goalless, but France got the reward for his or her pressure quarter-hour after the restart.
Doue slipped the ball to Mbappe just outside the world, and he controlled before using Issa Diop as a screen to direct an excellent strike into the web.
France’s all-time leading marksman now has 64 international goals from 104 appearances.
His lay-off within the 66th minute allowed Dembele to advance on goal and curl a shot low into the identical corner, a hand from Bounou proving unable to make it 2-0.
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Dembele is the reigning Ballon d’Or and now has five goals at this World Cup, but Mbappe continues to hog the limelight.