World Cup: France Keep Third Final Bid Alive With 2-0 Win Over Morocco

Mbappe and Dembele on target as France beat Morocco 

Bono saved Mbappe’s first-half penalty but couldn’t stop the Real Madrid star later. France now face Spain or Belgium for a place in the final.

Dembele seals it as France knock out Morocco to set up semi with Spain or Belgium...

Mbappe and Dembele find the net as France eliminate Morocco to book a semi-final spot.

Kylian Mbappe reached 20 World Cup goals after rebounding from a saved penalty, powering France to a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco in Foxborough and keeping alive their pursuit of a third straight final.

France began with intent, aiming for the same fast start that produced an early goal in their 2022 semi-final win over Morocco.

But Bono stood firm. He rushed across to parry Mbappe’s low drive, before recovering instantly to tip Upamecano’s downward header over the bar from the resulting corner.

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Once they survived the early onslaught, Morocco dropped into a deep, compact block to limit space for France’s attack.

The danger of opening up was exposed midway through the first half. On one of Morocco’s rare ventures forward, they were caught out and Mbappe burst into the box, forcing a clumsy challenge from Noussair Mazraoui.

The Real Madrid forward then endured a tense three-minute wait before taking the penalty. His stuttered run-up didn’t fool Bono, who dived the right way and comfortably saved the tame spot-kick.

After riding out France’s fast start, Morocco sat deep and tight to choke the space for Mbappe and co.

That approach made sense - when they pushed up once in the first half, Mbappe raced in behind and drew a rash foul from Mazraoui.

Mbappe had to wait over three minutes for the penalty. When he finally ran up, Bono read it easily and smothered the weak effort.

Mbappe and Dembele find the net as France eliminate Morocco to book a semi-final spot.

Kylian Mbappe reached 20 World Cup goals after rebounding from a saved penalty, powering France to a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco in Foxborough and keeping alive their pursuit of a third straight final.

France began with intent, aiming for the same fast start that produced an early goal in their 2022 semi-final win over Morocco.

But Bono stood firm. He rushed across to parry Mbappe’s low drive, before recovering instantly to tip Upamecano’s downward header over the bar from the resulting corner.

Having absorbed France’s early pressure, Morocco retreated into a disciplined, low block to deny room to France’s forwards.

The downside of abandoning that caution was laid bare before halftime. During a brief Moroccan foray, Mbappe broke into the area and was brought down by a panicked challenge from Noussair Mazraoui.

A delay of more than three minutes preceded the spot-kick. Mbappe’s hesitant run-up failed to wrong-foot Bono, who guessed correctly and gathered the underpowered penalty with ease.

Morocco clung on until the interval, with Digne’s audacious long-range dipper striking the woodwork in the final seconds of the half.

France’s impatience persisted early in the second period. It was broken in the 60th minute by a moment of Mbappe brilliance.

The 27-year-old put his penalty woe to one side and found the net from the edge of the box. Using Diop as a screen, he shaped a curling shot that began outside the far post and nestled into the corner past Bono.

The Atlas Lions’ resolve finally gave way through Dembele. Capitalizing on the space opened by Mbappe’s decoy run, he drove into the box and struck a powerful low effort beyond Bono.

France closed the game out professionally. Maignan marshaled a defense that repelled Morocco’s late pressure to record a third straight clean sheet, leaving Les Bleus with real momentum heading into Tuesday’s semi-final against Spain or Belgium.