France Secures Semifinal Spot Against Passive Morocco
In a decisive matchup at the FIFA World Cup held in Mexico, Canada, and the USA, France emerged as the first semifinalist, delivering a well-deserved victory against a timid and passive Moroccan side. Kylian Mbappé, echoing Argentina's Lionel Messi, missed a penalty during the quarterfinal clash in Boston but quickly redeemed himself by scoring his eighth tournament goal in the 60th minute. Ousmane Dembélé also contributed to France's success by netting the second goal in the 66th minute, sealing a 2-0 win.
Head coach Didier Deschamps expressed his satisfaction after what was his third-to-last game in charge of France, stating, "We are now where we wanted to be, and this is the third time in a row at a World Cup. It wasn't easy with missed chances and a missed penalty. However, when you have Kylian Mbappé on your team, you don't have to worry too much." Mbappé, who was substituted in the 77th minute due to a minor injury, celebrated the victory, emphasizing the team's objective of winning games. He assured fans that he would be ready for the challenges ahead, downplaying concerns about his heel injury.
A Dominant French Performance
From the outset, France displayed dominance, with Mbappé nearly scoring within the first four minutes, only to be thwarted by Moroccan goalkeeper Bono. The French team created a flurry of opportunities, leading the shot count to 7-0 within the first 25 minutes. The pivotal moment came from a penalty awarded after Achraf Hakimi lost possession during a right-side advance, leading to a swift counterattack by France. The referee, Facundo Tello, decisively pointed to the spot following a clear foul by Noussair Mazraoui on Mbappé. However, after a lengthy VAR review, Mbappé's penalty attempt resulted in a weak shot that Bono easily saved.
Despite this setback, France maintained control over the match, and Morocco, missing key striker Ismail Saibari, failed to pose any significant threats. The French continued to press, eventually expanding their shot tally to 13-0. The only moment of concern was when left-back Lucas Digne struck the crossbar from 25 yards out. In first-half stoppage time, Morocco's first shot came from a free kick taken by Hakimi, but he failed to convert.
As the second half commenced, Morocco's discussions in the tunnel did not translate into a more aggressive approach on the field. A promising counterattack in the 48th minute fizzled out due to hesitation from Azzedine Ounahi and Brahim Diaz, allowing the French defense to regroup. The breakthrough came shortly after the hour mark when Mbappé scored a brilliant goal, curling the ball into the net after being afforded too much space by Morocco's Issa Diop.
The match concluded as Morocco remained trapped in a cycle of passivity, with Dembélé doubling the score shortly after, finishing with a low shot from the edge of the box that Bono could not save. Frustration mounted for Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who gestured wildly towards the French goal during a water break, as his team struggled to find a way through. The closest they came to scoring was a near-own goal from Upamecano, while French keeper Mike Maignan had little to do aside from a routine save late in the game.
With this victory, France now looks forward to facing the winner of the upcoming match between Spain and Belgium in the semifinals, scheduled for Friday at 9 PM CEST, live from Inglewood, California, officiated by English referee Michael Oliver.
As reported by sportschau.de.
