After a day off, the FIFA World Cup action returned.
The quarterfinals began at Boston Stadium. Kylian Mbappe and France were coming off a gruelling win over Paraguay, while Achraf Hakimi and Morocco were coming off a win against Canada.
It felt weird that this was the only game of the day, but this was an intriguing matchup. France is currently the number-one-ranked team in the world, while Morocco is ranked fifth.
First half: Poor attacking
France knew they needed to be firing on all cylinders to start the game. This time, they weren’t facing the UFC ball from Paraguay.
However, despite not having the antics, Morocco were sound defensively. It also did not help that France’s attack looked very timid despite the talent they have. They were pressing and making quick passes. But when they got into the box, their attack looked toothless. Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Michael Olise were poor in the final third.
Morocco was calm and composed, even when France went on the counterattack. Their man-marking was also on point. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was also dialled in.
After Noussair Mazraoui took down Mbappe in the box, the French superstar had a chance to get another World Cup goal. For whatever reason, VAR took a long look at it. It was a clear penalty, even Mazraoui knew it.
It was not a good penalty from Mbappe. Bounou knew where it was going immediately.
Bounou also made a brilliant save off Doué.
Morocco was sitting deep, but they weren’t doing anything with their attack. Their counterattacks were easily nullified by the French. Morocco’s only shot attempt of the first half came very late into stoppage time. Hakimi’s free kick went way wide of the right post.
Second half: Mbappe Can’t Be Kept Quiet
Morocco started the game by controlling possession. But they still couldn’t test France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France then started to show more urgency with their attack. When Olise had the ball, he was showing off his flair and creativity. But Mbappe ended up blasting the ball over the bar (he was offside anyway), and Doue’s long-range shot was easily handled by Bono.
However, Mbappe is someone who cannot stay quiet. The Real Madrid forward took Doué’s pass and got around Issa Diop. He then fired a missile into the right corner past Bono. That made up for his penalty miss in the first half. Mbappe overtook Lionel Messi in the World Cup golden boot race as he had eight goals.
Les Blues awoke from their slumber. It just took six minutes for them to strike again. Dembele took Mbappe’s pass, and Bono couldn’t fully handle the shot. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner sent the French fans at Boston Stadium into a frenzy, and Daft Punk’s One More Time blared from the speakers.
Even after taking Mbappe and Doue on for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Bradley Barcola, they were still pushing and testing Bono. However, Morocco wanted to make things interesting as they started throwing everything at France. Maignan was forced to make his first save of the game from a dangerous Azzedine Ounahi free kick.
But it wasn’t enough for Morocco. For the third straight World Cup, France were off to the semi-finals. Can anyone stop this runaway train?
Stat of the match
Mbappe is already one of the greatest players of all time.
Disasterclass of the match
Meme of the day
Hopefully, people in Paris stay safe. If France reaches the final, then the city will really burn to the ground.
Wrap-up
France will face either Spain or Belgium on Tuesday, July 14, at Dallas Stadium.
Those two teams play on Friday at noon Pacific at Los Angeles Stadium. Spain look like the favourites, but Belgium have been a surprise in the knockout rounds.
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