France defeated Morocco 2-0 to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a thrilling encounter on Thursday night.
Goals from France captain Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé secured their place in a third successive semi-final.
Mbappé now has eight goals in the tournament after he scored the first goal in the second half, followed by a goal from Dembélé just six minutes later, giving France a 2-0 lead that remained until the end of the game.
France will now compete for a place in the final against the winner of the Belgium versus Spain match to be played in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.
African champions Morocco were considered a serious threat going into the quarter-final; however, they suffered under the weight of France’s precision striking and creative football.
Didier Deschamps’ men were always in control against a limited Morocco side who failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd-minute free-kick by Azzedine Ounahi was comfortably saved by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France created better chances throughout the match, though they struggled to open the scoring in the first half.
The French side’s relentless attacking football in the second half ultimately sealed the fate of the game.
Morocco managed to hold out until half-time, but it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off.
Paris Saint-Germain star Dembélé made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner.
The Belgium-Spain encounter is what many experts are calling the match of the tournament, as one side is considered one of the best defensive teams while the Spanish side is known for their attacking football mixed with genius creativity.
Also read: Morocco face blow as Saibari ruled out of QF clash against France
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