Mbappé stunner ends Morocco resistance to send France into World Cup semi-finals
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
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60'
Goal Kylian MBAPPE (France) scores!!
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63'
Yellow card Issa DIOP (Morocco) is booked by
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66'
Goal Ousmane DEMBELE (France) scores!!
France squad
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3 Lucas Digne Defender
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4 Dayot UPAMECANO Defender
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5 Jules KOUNDE Defender
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6 Manu KONE Midfielder
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7 Ousmane DEMBELE Forward
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10 Kylian MBAPPE C Forward
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11 Michael OLISE Forward
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14 Adrien RABIOT Midfielder
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16 Mike MAIGNAN Goalkeeper
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17 William SALIBA Defender
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20 Desire DOUE Forward
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1 Brice SAMBA Goalkeeper
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2 Malo GUSTO Defender
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8 Aurelien TCHOUAMENI Midfielder
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9 Marcus THURAM Forward
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12 Bradley BARCOLA Forward
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13 Ngolo KANTE Midfielder
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15 Ibrahima KONATE Defender
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18 Warren ZAIRE-EMERY Midfielder
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19 Theo HERNANDEZ Defender
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21 Lucas HERNANDEZ Defender
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22 Jean-Philippe MATETA Forward
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23 Robin RISSER Goalkeeper
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24 Rayan CHERKI Midfielder
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25 Maghnes AKLIOUCHE Midfielder
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26 Maxence Lacroix Defender
Morocco squad
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1 Yassine BOUNOU Goalkeeper
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2 Achraf HAKIMI C Defender
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3 Noussair MAZRAOUI Defender
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6 Ayyoub BOUADDI Midfielder
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7 Chemsdine TALBI Midfielder
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8 Azzedine OUNAHI Midfielder
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10 Brahim DIAZ Forward
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14 Issa Diop Defender
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23 Bilal EL KHANNOUSS Midfielder
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24 Neil EL AYNAOUI Midfielder
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26 Anass SALAH EDDINE Defender
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4 Sofyan AMRABAT Midfielder
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5 Marwane SAADANE Defender
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9 Soufiane RAHIMI Forward
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11 Ismael SAIBARI Midfielder
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12 Munir EL KAJOUI Goalkeeper
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13 Zakaria EL OUAHDI Defender
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15 Samir EL MOURABET Midfielder
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16 Gessime YASSINE Midfielder
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17 Amine SBAI Forward
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18 Chadi RIAD Defender
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19 Youssef BELAMMARI Defender
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20 Ayoub El Kaabi Forward
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21 Ayoube AMAIMOUNI Forward
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22 Ahmed Reda TAGNAOUTI Goalkeeper
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25 Redouane HALHAL Defender
France reached the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco, avenging nothing but confirming their status as one of the tournament's most relentless sides after beating the same opponents at the semi-final stage in Qatar. Kylian Mbappé was again decisive, missing a first-half penalty before scoring a spectacular curling opener and setting up Ousmane Dembélé for the second, and the article argues that France's blend of high pressing and attacking quality may prove too much for the rest of the field as they chase a third World Cup title in 28 years.
France dominated for long spells, creating 13 chances before Morocco managed their first effort on goal — a free-kick wide in first-half stoppage time. Mbappé's penalty, awarded after Noussair Mazraoui tripped him, followed an unusually long VAR check of three minutes and 10 seconds, and was saved comfortably by Yassine Bounou, who also denied Dayot Upamecano and Desiré Doué, while Lucas Digne struck the bar. The piece notes France's rhythm has dipped since the group stage and the last-32 win over Sweden, drawing a comparison to West Germany in 1990 — a clearly superior team now grinding through the knockout rounds — with Mbappé substituted to an ovation 13 minutes from time.
- Sources
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- Outlets
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- Left · Centre · Right
- 1 · 1 · 0
In short
- France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
- Mbappu00e9 missed a penalty but scored a stunning opener and made the second.
- France's form has dipped but their quality still looks ominous.
How this story developed
- 4 months ago France reached the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco, avenging nothing but confirming their status as one of the tournament's most relentless sides after beating the same opponents at the semi-final stage in Qatar.
Where outlets differ
Left-leaning outlets 1
Only here: mbappé, stunner, ends, resistance, send
Centre outlets 1
Only here: comfortable
Every side used: morocco, france, semi, finals
Headline columns compared word for word; nothing in them is AI-written.
Explained simply
France and Morocco last met at this stage of the World Cup four years ago, when France came out on top on their way to the 2022 final in Qatar. Kylian Mbappé, France's star forward, has been central to that success and to the team's run in the current tournament, while Morocco built a reputation as one of the competition's most resilient and popular underdog sides.
France are one of football's most successful national teams, having won the World Cup twice in the past three decades, and reaching the semi-finals keeps alive their bid for a third title. Ousmane Dembélé and Dayot Upamecano are among the other France players involved, while Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and defender Noussair Mazraoui play prominent roles for their side.
The World Cup is football's biggest international tournament, held every four years, with knockout matches such as this one eliminating the loser outright. Reaching the semi-finals places a team among the last four in the competition, one step from the final.
Coverage · 2 sources
Bias meters
From 2 rated sources.