France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarterfinals on Thursday at Gillette Stadium, marking the second consecutive tournament in which Morocco has been eliminated by the French with the same scoreline. The match mirrored their previous encounter in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where France also won 2-0.
Key Details
The French team dominated the match, creating numerous chances but struggled to break through Morocco's organized defense in the first half. Despite 13 attempts on goal before halftime, the score remained 0-0, with a missed penalty by French captain Kylian Mbappé in the 28th minute being a key moment. Mbappé's shot was saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and a powerful shot from Lucas Digne hit the crossbar just before the break.
In the second half, Mbappé finally found the net in the 60th minute, scoring his eighth goal of the tournament and his 20th in World Cup history. Ousmane Dembélé quickly followed with a second goal six minutes later, effectively sealing the victory for France. After sustaining an ankle injury, Mbappé was substituted in the 78th minute, receiving applause from the crowd as he left the pitch.
Background
France coach Didier Deschamps noted Morocco's lack of attacking threat, stating,
They had no real forwards using their speed in the wide areas. We were possessing the ball, they had no way to be dangerous to us.
The match showcased France's offensive capabilities while highlighting Morocco's defensive resilience until the latter stages.
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