World Cup Title Within Reach

LIVE: Can Morocco Stop Top Favorite France?

Kylian Mbappé initially missed a penalty kick, but then went on to be the decisive factor once again!(Bild: AFP/ODD ANDERSEN)

France is in the World Cup semifinals after a 2-0 victory over Morocco. While the Moroccans—considered by many to be dark horses—disappointed in this highly anticipated quarterfinal matchup, the French once again demonstrated that the title this year can only be won by them. Superstar Kylian Mbappé initially missed a penalty kick but then emerged once again as the match-winner with a goal and an assist. 

Top favorite France advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-0 (0-0) victory over Morocco that was never in doubt. In this rematch of the 2022 semifinal, superstar Kylian Mbappé missed a penalty kick (28th minute) but put “Les Bleus” on the path to victory with his eighth World Cup goal (60th minute)—now tied with Lionel Messi. Ousmane Dembélé also scored (66th minute). In Tuesday’s semifinal (9:00 p.m. CEST – on the sportkrone.at live ticker) in Dallas, they’ll face either Spain or Belgium.

Here is the tournament bracket:

In front of 63,811 spectators in Boston, there were no surprises. The hopeful Moroccans defended compactly, while France—which replaced Bradley Barcola with Desire Doue on offense—struggled to break through the defense. A close-range header by Dayot Upamecano, saved by goalie Bono (4th minute), as well as far less threatening header attempts by Dembele (19th minute) and Adrien Rabiot (21st minute), were initially the only results of the patient but luckless efforts by the “Equipe Tricolore,” which repeatedly waited for the opponent to make a mistake.

After losing possession during one of Morocco’s rare offensive moves, it finally seemed to be happening: On the counterattack, Mbappé went down in the penalty area, but after a long delay, his weak shot was saved by Bono. Bono was also there shortly afterward to stop Doue, who was running in alone (36th minute), and he also had a bit of luck when Lucas Digne hit the crossbar (45’+1). Despite the French’s overwhelming dominance—and the fact that they were never once put in a tight spot defensively—the teams went into halftime tied 0–0.

Mbappé with his 20th World Cup goal
The second half brought more of the same, though Morocco played with a bit more courage. Mbappé’s goal—a wonderful curling shot into the far corner—was also the first offensive highlight and paved the way for what ultimately became a comfortable victory. On the all-time World Cup scoring list for the tournament in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Mbappé tied Messi; on the all-time World Cup scoring list, he currently has 20 goals—just one fewer than his Argentine counterpart, who is twelve years his senior.

All-Time World Cup Scorers List

• 21 goals: Lionel Messi (ARG) 2006–2026 *
• 20 goals: Kylian Mbappé (FRA) 2018–2026 *
• 16 goals: Miroslav Klose (GER) 2002–2014
• 15 goals: Ronaldo (BRA) 1998–2006
• 14 goals: Gerd Müller (GER) 1970/1974
  14 goals: Harry Kane (ENG) 2018–2026 *
• 13 goals: Just Fontaine (FRA) 1958
• 12 goals: Pelé (BRA) 1958–1970
• 11 goals: Sándor Kocsis (HUN) 1954
  11 goals: Jürgen Klinsmann (GER) 1990–1998
  11 goals: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) 2006–2026 *

* = Active player

Dembele added to his tally shortly afterward with his fifth goal of the tournament, and Morocco’s response was less than convincing. This time around, the “Lions of the Atlas” were a far cry from the sensation they created in Qatar 2022, when they became the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal. Incidentally, the final score against France was also 0–2 four years ago.