Morocco lost their spark at a critical stage of the ongoing World Cup on Thursday when it played France.
The latter booked a semi-final place after defeating them 2-0 in the quarter-final, ending the Atlas Lions’ hitherto impressive tournament campaign.
Morocco entered the match seeking another historic achievement after becoming the last African nation remaining in the competition following victories over the Netherlands and Canada.
The high-stakes clash carried immense narrative weight, serving as a highly anticipated rematch of their historic 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar, where France also emerged victorious before finishing as runners-up.
While Morocco entered this tournament driven by the desire to avenge that defeat and prove their 2022 run was no fluke, Les Bleus took the pitch carrying the immense pressure of defending their status as perennial powerhouse title contenders.
France controlled possession early but endured frustration after Kylian Mbappé failed to convert a first-half penalty against Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. The deadlock was finally broken in the 60th minute when Mbappé curled a clinical effort beyond Bounou to hand France a deserved advantage.
Only six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled France’s lead with a low finish, putting Didier Deschamps’ side firmly in control.
Morocco attempted to respond through Achraf Hakimi, Azzedine Ounahi and Brahim Diaz but struggled to penetrate France’s disciplined defensive organisation. France remained composed throughout the closing stages, limiting Morocco’s attacking opportunities while preserving another clean sheet in the knockout phase.
The victory sends France into the semi-finals, keeping alive their pursuit of another World Cup title after eliminating Paraguay and Morocco in successive knockout matches.
This continues an era of unprecedented consistency for Didier Deschamps’ squad, marking their third consecutive deep run in a major global tournament.
Morocco depart with pride after another memorable World Cup, having reached consecutive quarter-finals following their historic semi-final appearance in 2022, solidifying their status as a rising giant in international football.
