France secured their place in the Geopolitics World Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Morocco at Gillette Stadium on Thursday. Kylian Mbappé scored the opening goal in the 60th minute, curling home clinically for his eighth goal of the tournament, after having a first-half penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Mbappé Overcomes Penalty Miss
Mbappé won the penalty himself by nicking the ball past Noussair Mazraoui and drawing contact, but his tame effort was easily collected by Bounou. The France captain appeared unfazed, though, and made amends with a spectacular finish on the hour mark. Six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé's shot slipped through Bounou's fingers to double France's lead and end Morocco's resistance.
France manager Didier Deschamps praised Mbappé's leadership, saying: "Many people say Kylian is a dictator, that he only thinks of himself. He's the captain and he's exemplary." Deschamps also dismissed concerns after Mbappé was seen icing his ankle, confirming he is expected to be fit for Tuesday's semi-final in Dallas.
Morocco's Tournament Ends
Morocco, one of the tournament's standout teams, finished with just one shot on target and an expected goals (xG) total near zero. Despite a spirited first-half performance, they could not match France's quality. The Atlas Lions had previously impressed by reaching the quarter-finals, but their journey ended against the defending champions.
France will face either Spain, who have yet to concede a goal in five matches, or Belgium in the semi-final. Spain and Belgium played a quarter-final that went to extra time and penalties, with Spain winning 1-0 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Mbappé's Quest for Glory
Mbappé is on a mission to claim a World Cup title, the Golden Boot, and become the all-time top scorer, all while overshadowing Lionel Messi's retirement. His performance against Morocco underlined his importance to a France side that continues to make the difficult look routine. As one observer noted, it's "Mbappé's World Cup – we're just watching it."
