It’s the same script. A reflection of the scoreline of the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar two years ago? France won 2-0 that time too. The same number flashed on the scoreboard today, 2-0.
Morocco’s indomitable football versus the mesmerizing style of French art. In the end, two goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele once again broke the wall of resistance of the African team.
The first half of the game was uneventful though. Equally fought. Within 25 minutes of the match, Mbappe was fouled in the Moroccan box. He received a penalty. The French superstar had an easy chance to lead the team.
But Morocco’s impenetrable goalkeeper Yassin Ben was in charge of handling the challenge! In the 28th minute, he jumped to the right to block Mbappe’s powerful spot kick. Morocco seems to have sent a message of war by erasing the memory of Qatar. Lucas Dein’s powerful shot hit the crossbar in first-half injury time (45+2 minutes) and it remained goalless until the break.
But champions are always adept at last-minute magic. Mbappe, who missed a penalty in the first half and became a symbol of frustration, became the centerpiece of France’s art in the second half. She won the ball from a perfect pass from Desiree Doe in the 60th minute and beat Benno with a measured right-footed shot from the left side of the box.
France went ahead 1-0. The French struck again before they could handle the shock of this one goal. In the 66th minute, Mbappe did not score himself but gave the ball to Ousmane Dembele. Dembele’s perfect shot from outside the box goes straight into the Moroccan net. The gap remained 2-0. The fate of the game was almost written there.
The lagging Moroccan coach played the adjustment card. Sofian Amrabat and Sufian Rahimi entered the field. Issa Diop received a yellow card for an offensive tackle in the 63rd minute. Ashraf Hakimi or Brahim Diaz try their best to get back into the match. But they did not have the power to break Mike Meighan’s wall and the discipline of the French defence.
A third straight semi-final is assured for France. 🇫🇷#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 9, 2026
Mbappe’s withdrawal due to injury in the 77th minute of the match must have caused some concern for the French camp. Substitute Jean-Philippe Metteta had a chance in injury time but Beno saved it. But this did not prevent the French from winning.
