ATLANTA, United States — France delivered a commanding performance to defeat Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals on Thursday, booking their place in the semi-finals and keeping their hopes of back-to-back titles alive.
The French side took control of the match from the opening whistle, with Kylian Mbappé opening the scoring in the 23rd minute with a clinical finish from outside the box. The French captain, who now has eight goals in the tournament, capitalised on a defensive error to slot the ball past the Moroccan goalkeeper.
France doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Olawoyin Olise, who has been instrumental throughout the tournament, converted a perfectly weighted through ball from Ademola Lookman. The Nigerian-born winger, who switched allegiance to France, provided the assist with a defence-splitting pass that caught the Moroccan backline off guard.
The Moroccan side, who had been the tournament’s surprise package, struggled to break down a well-organised French defence marshalled by Ibrahima Konaté. Despite creating a few opportunities through Achraf Hakimi and Youssef En-Nesyri, the Atlas Lions failed to find the back of the net.
France’s midfield duo of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga controlled the tempo of the game, dictating play and breaking up Morocco’s counter-attacking attempts. The French defence remained resolute, withstanding late pressure from the Moroccan side who pushed forward in search of a consolation goal.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui acknowledged that France’s quality proved too much for his team. “We played against a great team with world-class players. We gave our best, but tonight France were the better side,” he said in his post-match press conference.
France’s victory sets up a semi-final clash with the winner of the Portugal-Colombia quarter-final, with the defending champions now just two wins away from retaining their title. The French side have been impressive throughout the tournament, scoring 12 goals and conceding just three.
France coach Didier Deschamps praised his team’s performance, saying: “We played with great intensity and focus. The team showed character and discipline. We are now focused on the semi-finals and the next challenge ahead.”
