France vs Morocco: Second-Half Strikes Seal Quarter-Final Win

(Boston, July 10) France are through to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup after a professional 2-0 win over Morocco confirmed their status as one of the most dominant teams in this year’s tournament. The France vs Morocco quarter-final, played in Boston, was decided by second-half strikes from Mbappe and Dembele, with Morocco’s heroic goalkeeper Bounou unable to repeat his first-half heroics after the interval.

Morocco came into the match hampered by key absentees. Top scorer Zerbi was ruled out with a hamstring injury before kick-off, depriving the team of its most potent attacking outlet, while defensive pillar Riad also missed out, forcing a last-minute reshuffle at the back with Mazrawi being moved into a central defensive role. France made just one change from their previous match, with Doue replacing Barcola on the left wing.

For 45 minutes, Morocco looked capable of causing an upset. Bounou was imperious, turning away effort after effort and making his now-legendary penalty save from Mbappe to preserve the goalless scoreline at half-time. France struck the woodwork through Digne in injury time, a moment that summed up a first half in which nothing would go their way.

The second half was a different proposition entirely. France were sharper, more direct, and two goals in six minutes effectively ended the contest. Mbappe‘s 60th-minute effort was the quality strike of a man determined to make amends for his earlier miss, while his assist for Dembele six minutes later demonstrated the full range of his creative ability. Both players’ tournament statistics — Mbappe with eight goals and three assists, Dembele with five goals and two assists — underline France’s extraordinary firepower going into the final four.

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