France defeat Morocco in World Cup quarter-final, Mbappe suffers late injury scare
France advance to semi-finals
France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco in their World Cup quarter-final match. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele sealed the win, propelling France into the semi-finals. The match, played in Massachusetts, saw France deliver a professional performance.
Mbappe opened the scoring for France, curling the ball into the lead after an earlier penalty attempt was saved. This goal marked his eighth of the tournament, placing him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. He then assisted Dembele for France’s second goal, setting up a low finish into the bottom corner.
Following the match, Ousmane Dembele expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We’re very happy. We were really focused (today). This is my third World Cup semi-final with the French team and it’s pure joy, pure pleasure. We’re going to stay focused on what’s coming next.”
Mbappe’s record-breaking performance and injury concern
Kylian Mbappe’s performance against Morocco saw him equal a record set by former goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, reaching 20 World Cup appearances for France. This moved him ahead of Antoine Griezmann, making him the Frenchman with the most appearances by an outfield player. At 27 years, 201 days, Mbappe also became the youngest player from any nation to achieve 20 World Cup appearances, surpassing Wladislaw Zmuda’s record.
He also scored the opening goal of a World Cup match for the seventh time, a feat only surpassed by Lionel Messi, who has done so 11 times. With a goal and an assist in the match, Mbappe became the first player to register 10 or more goal involvements in two different World Cups since records began in 1966. In this tournament, he has eight goals and three assists, adding to his eight goals and two assists from the previous World Cup.
Despite his achievements, there was concern for Mbappe after he was forced off late in the game due to an injury scare. He was seen receiving treatment on his right ankle on the bench. However, after the match, he was observed running and jumping in celebration with his teammates, suggesting the injury may not be severe.
Deschamps makes history as France prepare for semi-final
The victory over Morocco marked Didier Deschamps’ 20th World Cup win as France manager, making him the first manager to achieve this milestone. By taking charge of his 25th World Cup match, he also equalled a record held by former West Germany manager Helmut Schon, a record he is set to break in the semi-finals.
France will now face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals. Spain and Belgium are scheduled to play their quarter-final match tomorrow morning at 5am AEST. France has reached their eighth World Cup semi-final, equalling Brazil’s record, with only Germany having more appearances.
Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi praised the French team, highlighting not only their technical skill but also their work ethic. He stated, “They are a team with a lot of talent, but they also run. That is more important, that they have the talent but they are also willing to run, which makes them [a formidable opponent].”
One notable player for Morocco was Azzedine Ounahi, who was described as being active across the pitch and causing problems for France. Despite Morocco having more possession than France, the overall metrics, including shots and expected goals, indicated France’s dominance. Morocco has now suffered two 2-0 defeats to France in the last two World Cups, with the previous one occurring in the 2022 semi-finals.
Didier Deschamps commented on the victory, stating, “It’s good, it was a tough match. Today, we missed a penalty and failed to convert some chances. With Kylian (Mbappe), there’s no issue, he never doubts himself. We are exactly where we wanted to be.”
Source: nytimes.com
