France showcased a relentless performance that highlighted their attacking prowess against Morocco. The Moroccan side entered the match with the ambition to avenge their previous defeat by France in the World Cup semifinals, but they were quickly overwhelmed. France’s pressing game forced Morocco into a defensive posture, making it clear that mere survival against such offensive talent was an unrealistic strategy.
Kylian Mbappé emerged as the standout player, initially missing a penalty kick before scoring a spectacular opening goal and assisting Ousmane Dembélé for the second. He exited the match to a well-deserved ovation 13 minutes before the end, as the game teetered on the brink of a potential Moroccan resurgence when he struck unexpectedly.
Stopping France seems a formidable challenge. Even with disciplined defending, tactical blocks, and excellent saves from their goalkeeper, a single moment of brilliance from one of France’s forwards can change the game. The question remains whether this French squad peaked too soon, but if they maintain this level, they are well-positioned to claim their third World Cup title in 28 years.
Throughout the opening half, it appeared a French goal was inevitable. When Mbappé was brought down in the box by Noussair Mazraoui after a fine assist from Michael Olise, France found themselves with a prime opportunity to score.
However, a lengthy VAR review, lasting three minutes and ten seconds, created an unexpected delay before Yassine Bounou returned to his line. Perhaps the wait affected Mbappé, as he subsequently struck a weak penalty that Bounou saved easily. This marked a turning point for Bounou, who had never before saved a penalty for Morocco outside of shootouts.
Bounou also denied a powerful header from Dayot Upamecano and a low shot from Doué, while Lucas Digne’s effort struck the crossbar, as France struggled to find the breakthrough. By the time Morocco attempted their first shot—a free kick that went wide at the end of first-half injury time—France had already created 13 scoring opportunities.
Although France’s rhythm from earlier matches seemed reduced, their intent remained evident. Didier Deschamps has not reverted to the overly cautious tactics that characterized his tenure for much of the past 14 years.
While some crosses were misplaced and chances squandered, France displayed a fighting spirit reminiscent of West Germany in 1990—a team filled with quality that learned to grind through the knockout phases after early dominance.
Mbappé’s miss earlier did not deter him. An hour into the match, he capitalized on a loose clearance, receiving the ball from Digne. In a challenging position, he managed to score by using Diop as a shield, striking a remarkable shot past the defender with a unique looping trajectory at 98kph, a finish that left Bounou with no chance.
Following an injury to Ismael Saibari, Morocco made tactical adjustments, bringing in Chemsdine Talbi and shifting Bilal El Khannouss to a central role. The hope was for Talbi to exploit weaknesses in Jules Koundé’s defense, similar to Sofiane Boufal’s successful strategy four years prior, but Talbi mostly focused on containing Koundé’s attacks.
Once France broke through Morocco’s initial resistance, it became clear that their only path to victory lay in hoping for penalties. The second goal came swiftly after Mbappé’s opener, with Dembélé scoring as Mazraoui obstructed Bounou’s view. Despite getting a hand to the shot, Bounou could not prevent the ball from entering the net.
This victory was a testament to France’s capabilities. By the end of the match, they had the luxury of substituting players to rest them for their upcoming challenge against either Spain or Belgium in Dallas. Stopping this French team will not be an easy task.
