France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach World Cup semifinals
Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scored second-half goals as France advanced to a semifinal against Spain or Belgium.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
France moved into the World Cup semifinals with a 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday, as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scored in the second half. AFP reported that the result keeps the 2018 champions on course for a third straight World Cup final.
The quarterfinal at Gillette Stadium outside Boston was settled in a six-minute burst after halftime. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 60th minute with his eighth goal of the tournament, and Dembele added France’s second in the 66th.
France will next play either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, according to AFP. Spain and Belgium are due to meet in their quarterfinal in Los Angeles on Friday.
Morocco entered the match as African champions and had been seen as a team capable of troubling Didier Deschamps’ side, AFP reported. France, however, controlled much of the game and limited Morocco’s attacking threat for long stretches.
Morocco did not record a shot on goal until the 83rd minute, when Azzedine Ounahi’s free kick was stopped by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, according to AFP. By then, France had already built a two-goal lead and had little need to chase the game.
France had a clear chance to go ahead before halftime. AFP reported that Mbappe won a penalty after Noussair Mazraoui brought him down, but Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved the spot kick in the 28th minute.
The penalty came only after a lengthy VAR review, delaying Mbappe before he took the kick. Bounou’s save kept Morocco level at the interval despite sustained pressure from France.
Mbappe made the breakthrough on the hour. From the edge of the area, he curled a right-footed shot beyond Bounou to put France in front, AFP reported.
Dembele then gave France breathing room six minutes later. The Paris Saint-Germain forward carried the ball from midfield and placed a low shot into the bottom corner.
The win sends France into another late-stage World Cup match under Deschamps, whose team won the 2018 title. Morocco’s run ended in the quarterfinals after a match in which France’s finishing and defensive control proved decisive.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.