“After a sustained spell of French pressure that saw Bounou make a key save and Mbappé blaze one over, the France captain finally made the breakthrough — finishing from the left side of the box to make it 1-0 and break Moroccan resistance.”
Pivotal“Issa Diop was booked for a foul on Mbappé after the France captain won a free kick on the left wing — a yellow card that summed up Morocco's increasingly desperate defensive work as they tried to keep France at bay.”
“Six minutes after Mbappé's opener, Dembélé added a second with a right-footed effort from outside the box — converting the free kick situation won by Mbappé — to put the semi-final beyond any doubt and end Morocco's World Cup.”
Pivotal
France
Morocco
Outstanding performance
France•MidfielderFrance were the dominant force throughout in terms of attacking intent, generating 21 shots to Morocco's five and creating five big chances, yet for long stretches found Yassine Bounou and the Moroccan defensive structure difficult to breach. The match was largely cagey in a tight first half, with France's superior quality only translating into goals in a decisive six-minute burst between the 60th and 66th minutes. Mbappé was the catalyst — his goal from the left side of the box came after back-to-back shooting attempts inside the same phase of play, and minutes later his winning of a free kick on the left wing led directly to Dembélé curling home from outside the box to put the tie beyond doubt. Morocco's substitutions at 62 minutes — removing Amrabat and Rahimi — reflected an attempt to change the dynamic, but Issa Diop's yellow card in that same spell and the quick concession of a second goal effectively ended any realistic prospect of a comeback. For France, this is a clinical semi-final triumph built on Mbappé's match-winning quality; for Morocco, a proud tournament run ends without reward despite matching Les Bleus for possession.
How entertaining was this match?
Attempt missed. Gessime Yassine from Morocco takes a left-footed shot from over 40 yards on the right wing, but it goes too high. He was assisted by Sofyan Amrabat.
Amine Sbaï from Morocco commits a handball.
Corner awarded to Morocco after Lucas Digne concedes.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 6 minutes of added time.
Achraf Hakimi commits a foul for Morocco.
Bradley Barcola (France) is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Jean-Philippe Mateta's header from close range is too high. Ousmane Dembélé provided the assist with a cross after a corner.
Attempt saved. Bradley Barcola's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is saved.
France wins a corner, conceded by Yassine Bounou.
Substitution for France: Malo Gusto comes on for Jules Koundé.
Attempt missed. Michael Olise (France) took a left-footed shot from the center of the box after a quick counterattack.
Substitution for Morocco: Amine Sbaï comes on for Chemsdine Talbi.
Corner awarded to Morocco after a concession by Michael Olise.
Attempt missed. Neil El Aynaoui (Morocco) had a header from the left side of the six-yard box after a corner.
Adrien Rabiot commits a foul for France.
Achraf Hakimi from Morocco wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Azzedine Ounahi from Morocco has his right-footed shot from outside the box saved.
Foul committed by Jules Koundé of France.
Zakaria El Ouahdi from Morocco is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
France win a corner after Issa Diop concedes.
Gessime Yassine from Morocco is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Warren Zaïre-Emery commits a foul for France.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Substitution for France: Jean-Philippe Mateta comes on for Kylian Mbappé due to an injury.
Substitution for France: Bradley Barcola comes on for Désiré Doué.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Kylian Mbappé from France.
Substitution for Morocco: Zakaria El Ouahdi comes on for Anass Salah-Eddine.
Gessime Yassine from Morocco commits a foul.
Désiré Doué wins a free kick for France on the left wing.
Substitution for Morocco: Gessime Yassine comes on for Brahim Díaz.
Corner awarded to Morocco after Dayot Upamecano concedes.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Substitution for France: Warren Zaïre-Emery comes on for Manu Koné.
The match is currently paused for a drinks break.
assist: Kylian Mbappé
Goal! France leads 2-0 against Morocco. Ousmane Dembélé scores for France with a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Issa DiopYellow CardIssa Diop of Morocco receives a yellow card for a foul.
Issa Diop commits a foul for Morocco.
Kylian Mbappé wins a free kick for France on the left wing.
Substitution for Morocco: Soufiane Rahimi comes on for Bilal El Khannouss.
Substitution for Morocco: Sofyan Amrabat comes on for Ayyoub Bouaddi.
assist: Désiré Doué
Goal! France leads 1-0 against Morocco as Kylian Mbappé scores with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box.
Jules Koundé commits a handball for France.
Kylian Mbappé from France misses the attempt with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it too high.
Attempt saved. Yassine Bounou (Morocco) saves a right-footed shot from outside the box by Désiré Doué (France) in the bottom left corner. The assist came from Kylian Mbappé.
Foul committed by Ayyoub Bouaddi of Morocco.
Michael Olise of France wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner awarded to Morocco after a concession by Michael Olise.
Brahim Díaz's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked, with assistance from Azzedine Ounahi.
The second half begins with the score at 0-0 between France and Morocco.
Achraf Hakimi from Morocco attempts a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes close and misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Adrien Rabiot commits a handball for France.
The first half ends with the score at 0-0 between France and Morocco.
Achraf Hakimi from Morocco is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Achraf Hakimi from Morocco is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Désiré Doué of France.
Michael Olise's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Lucas Digne from France hits the crossbar with a left-footed shot from outside the box.
Manu Koné's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Azzedine Ounahi from Morocco commits a foul.
Adrien Rabiot wins a free kick for France in the defensive half.
Dayot Upamecano commits a foul for France.
Bilal El Khannouss from Morocco is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Brahim Díaz from Morocco is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by William Saliba (France).
Neil El Aynaoui from Morocco is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Manu Koné wins a free kick for France in the attacking half.
Jules Koundé's header from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Michael Olise's cross.
Attempt saved. Yassine Bounou (Morocco) saves a right-footed shot from the center of the box by Désiré Doué (France), which was aimed at the bottom left corner.
Corner awarded to France after Yassine Bounou concedes.
Attempt missed by Ousmane Dembélé from France, who took a left-footed shot from outside the box.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is currently delayed for a drinks break.
Penalty saved! Kylian Mbappé's right-footed shot for France is saved.
Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco concedes a penalty for a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty awarded to France as Kylian Mbappé is fouled in the penalty area.
Corner awarded to Morocco after Lucas Digne concedes.
Attempt missed. Adrien Rabiot (France) had a header from the center of the box after a corner.
Attempt blocked. Ousmane Dembélé's left-footed shot from outside the box for France is blocked. Manu Koné provided the assist.
France wins a corner after Noussair Mazraoui concedes.
Neil El Aynaoui from Morocco commits a handball.
Attempt missed. Ousmane Dembélé (France) took a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Azzedine Ounahi from Morocco wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Lucas Digne (France).
Foul committed by Neil El Aynaoui of Morocco.
Michael Olise from France is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Désiré Doué from France has a right-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked.
Brahim Díaz from Morocco is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Désiré Doué commits a foul for France.
Attempt saved. Dayot Upamecano's header from close range is saved in the center of the goal by Yassine Bounou. Ousmane Dembélé provided the assist with a cross.
Kylian Mbappé's attempt from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Yassine Bounou. The shot was assisted by Désiré Doué.
Dayot Upamecano's header is saved.
Corner awarded.
Kylian Mbappe takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Kick-off! The referee is Facundo Tello Figueroa.
France and Morocco renew their World Cup rivalry in Boston in what promises to be an electric quarterfinal rematch of their iconic 2022 semifinal clash. Les Bleus arrive as the tournament's most dominant force with Kylian Mbappé on fire, while Morocco's unbeaten run and legendary defensive resolve make them a dangerous underdog. This is more than football — it's a geopolitical, cultural, and sporting spectacle wrapped into 90 minutes.
