France Secures Semifinal Berth
France has advanced to the World Cup semifinals after a 2-0 victory over Morocco. The match saw Kylian Mbappé play a pivotal role, scoring the opening goal and contributing to the second, despite an injury scare late in the game.
Mbappé initially had a penalty saved but later curled a shot to put France in the lead. This goal marked his eighth of the tournament, bringing him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. He then assisted in the build-up to Ousmane Dembele’s goal, which secured France’s 2-0 win.
The victory means France will face either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals. The other quarter-final matchups include Norway against England in Miami and Argentina facing Switzerland in Kansas City.
Mbappé Addresses Injury Scare
Towards the end of the match against Morocco, Kylian Mbappé was substituted in the 78th minute after a challenge from Issa Diop. He was seen with ice on his right ankle, raising concerns among fans and the team.
Following the game, Mbappé downplayed the injury, stating, “I’m fine, I took a knock to the ankle but everything is okay.” He added that the substitution was a precaution, suggesting that Jean-Philippe Mateta was better suited for the final 15 minutes of the match. France coach also confirmed that Mbappé was feeling some pain in his ankle, attributing it to the continuous schedule of matches.
The incident occurred after Diop’s challenge, which resulted in a yellow card. Images of Mbappé on the bench with an ice pack circulated, causing anxiety among supporters. Despite the concern, Mbappé’s reassurances suggest he will be ready for the upcoming semifinal.
Key Performances and Tournament Context
Beyond Mbappé’s contributions, France’s performance highlighted their depth. While Mbappé has scored 50 percent of France’s goals in this World Cup, other players have also been significant. Ousmane Dembele’s goal against Morocco was his fifth of the competition. Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue have collectively scored three goals.
In contrast, Morocco’s performance in the quarter-final was described as conservative and lacking their usual attacking flair. They were without key players due to injuries, including Ismael Saibari, their main goal threat, and two first-choice left center-backs. Their strategy of sitting deep and soaking up pressure did not translate into effective counter-attacks, as they struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities.
Mbappé’s eventful night also included a missed penalty in the first half. The delay before he took the penalty, which involved a VAR check and discussions with the referee, was notably long. This miss ended a streak of 15 successful penalty conversions for Mbappé. Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, made the save, marking his fourth World Cup penalty save, a record in the competition’s history.
Mbappé’s overall tournament statistics now stand at eight goals and three assists in the 2026 World Cup, building on his eight goals and two assists in Qatar 2022. This makes him the first player to achieve at least 10 direct goal involvements in two different editions of the World Cup.
The World Cup quarter-finals continue with important matches scheduled. Tomorrow will determine France’s opponent in Dallas on Tuesday. The second quarter-final will feature Spain and Belgium in Los Angeles at 3pm ET. Saturday will host a double-header to finalize the second semifinal lineup, with Norway playing England in Miami at 5pm ET and Argentina facing Switzerland in Kansas City at 9pm ET.
The tournament has already seen significant action, with Boston’s venues hosting seven games and a total of 16 goals scored. France was the only team to maintain a perfect record in Foxborough.
All eyes will now be on Mbappé’s ankle in the coming hours as France prepares for the semifinal match.
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Source: nytimes.com
