France defeat Morocco to reach World Cup semi-finals, Mbappe sustains late injury concern
France advance to semi-finals
France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals, advancing to their third consecutive semi-final appearance. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele sealed the win for Les Bleus. The match saw France deliver another strong performance, though a late injury scare involving Mbappe raised concerns.
Mbappe opened the scoring for France, curling a shot into the lead after an earlier penalty attempt was saved. This goal marked his eighth of the tournament, placing him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. He then contributed to France’s second goal, assisting Ousmane Dembele, who finished low into the bottom corner.
The French team maintained a tight defence throughout the knockout stage of the tournament. Their expected goals against statistics highlight this defensive strength: 0.7 against Sweden, 0.2 against Paraguay, and 0.1 against Morocco. This consistent defensive effort has been a hallmark of their campaign.
Key player performances and records
Kylian Mbappe was named the official player of the match by FIFA, marking his third such award in this World Cup. His goal against Morocco was his 20th in World Cup history, achieved in his 20th match, moving him one goal behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi. Mbappe also became the youngest player from any nation to reach 20 World Cup appearances, surpassing Poland’s Wladislaw Zmuda’s record.
With a goal and an assist in the match, Mbappe achieved another historical milestone, becoming the first player since 1966 to register 10 or more goal involvements in two different World Cups. In this tournament, he has accumulated eight goals and three assists, adding to his eight goals and two assists from the previous World Cup.
Ousmane Dembele also made a significant contribution, scoring his fifth goal of the tournament. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “We’re very happy. We were really focused (today). This is my third World Cup semi-final with the French team and it’s pure joy, pure pleasure.”
Didier Deschamps, the France manager, made history with this victory, achieving his 20th World Cup win as manager. This makes him the first manager to reach 20 wins in the tournament. Additionally, by managing his 25th World Cup match, he equalled a record held by West Germany manager Helmut Schon, a record he is set to break in the upcoming semi-finals.
Despite the win, a moment of concern arose when Mbappe was substituted in the 76th minute after being taken down. He was later seen with an ice pack on his right ankle while on the bench. However, he appeared to celebrate with his teammates after the match, suggesting the injury might not be severe.
For Morocco, midfielder Azzedine Ounahi was noted for his performance, causing problems for France between the penalty areas with his driving runs. His efforts were a highlight for the AFCON champions, despite their defeat.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals
France will now prepare to face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals. The opposing team will be determined in the second quarter-final match. Spain has been described as effective in the tournament, while Belgium recently delivered a strong performance in their 4-1 victory over the US.
France has a history of consistent success in international football, having reached two finals, a quarter-final, and now another semi-final since their first World Cup win in 1998. This marks their eighth World Cup semi-final appearance, equalling Brazil’s record, with only Germany having more.
Morocco’s head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, acknowledged France’s talent and work ethic, stating, “They are a team with a lot of talent, but they also run. That is more important, that they have the talent but they are also willing to run, which makes them” a formidable opponent. Deschamps also commented on the victory, saying, “It’s good, it was a tough match. Today, we missed a penalty and failed to convert some chances. With Kylian (Mbappe), there’s no issue, he never doubts himself. We are exactly where we wanted to be.”
The French forward line demonstrated its effectiveness once more, with Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Désiré Doué, and Michael Olise all contributing shots and chances created. Bradley Barcola, who entered the game late, also had a shot on goal. This collective effort resulted in two goals, two assists, 15 shots, and 11 chances created for the attacking quintet.
The match statistics showed France’s dominance, with 3.05 expected goals compared to Morocco’s 0.14. Despite Morocco having more possession, France’s control of the game was evident through their shots, expected goals, and the final scoreline. France will play their semi-final match in Dallas on Tuesday.
Source: nytimes.com
