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France Beat Morocco 2-0 to Enter FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals, Mbappe Stars Again

  • By Thetripurapost Sports Desk, Huston, USA
  • Jul 10, 2026
  • 160

French continued their impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign by defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals, securing a place in the tournament's semi-finals for the third consecutive edition. After reaching the finals in both 2018 and 2022, Les Bleus are now just two victories away from lifting another World Cup trophy.

Captain Kylian Mbappe recovered from a first-half penalty miss to score the opening goal before Ousmane Dembele added another to seal a comfortable victory. France will now take on the winner of the Spain vs Belgium quarter-final in a high-stakes semi-final clash.

Mbappe Responds Brilliantly After Penalty Miss

France dominated possession from the opening whistle but found Moroccan goalkeeper Yacine Bounou in exceptional form. The goalkeeper denied Mbappe early in the match before producing another excellent save from Dayot Upamecano's header.

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The French attack, led by Dembele, Désiré Doué and Michael Olise, created several opportunities, yet Morocco's disciplined defence ensured the score remained level throughout the opening half.

France earned a penalty in the 26th minute after Noussair Mazraoui fouled Mbappe inside the penalty area. However, Bounou guessed correctly and produced a brilliant save to deny the French captain, keeping the score at 0-0 before halftime.

France Take Control in the Second Half

Didier Deschamps' side returned after the break with greater intensity and finally broke the deadlock in the 60th minute.

Mbappe curled a stunning strike from outside the penalty area into the top corner, leaving Bounou with no chance despite a full-length dive.

 

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Just six minutes later, France doubled their advantage. Dembele unleashed a powerful long-range effort that slipped beyond Bounou despite the goalkeeper getting a hand on the ball, effectively ending Morocco's hopes of a comeback.

Mbappe Moves Ahead in Golden Boot Race

Mbappe's eighth goal of the tournament brought him level with Lionel Messi in the scoring charts. However, the French captain moved ahead in the Golden Boot standings thanks to three assists, while Messi has one assist alongside his eight goals.

The goal also took Mbappe's overall FIFA World Cup tally to 20 career goals, leaving him just one behind Messi's remarkable total of 21.

Morocco's Historic Journey Comes to an End

Morocco's defeat marked the end of Africa's challenge at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Despite the loss, the Atlas Lions once again impressed with their disciplined defending, resilience and fighting spirit throughout the tournament.

France, meanwhile, remain one of the strongest contenders for the World Cup title and will now focus on their semi-final showdown against either Spain or Belgium.

France One Step Closer to Another World Cup Final

With Mbappe leading from the front and France displaying both attacking quality and defensive discipline, Les Bleus have strengthened their credentials as championship favourites. Football fans around the world will now eagerly await their semi-final encounter as the race for the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy enters its decisive stage.

 

 

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