Mbappé and Dembélé fire France past Morocco into World Cup semifinals

Match recap

France dominated possession and chances from the start at Gillette Stadium, but Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou kept the score level at halftime. He tipped a Dayot Upamecano header over in the 5th minute, saved Mbappé's 28th-minute penalty after a VAR review, and denied Désiré Doué. Lucas Digne struck the crossbar in stoppage time.

Mbappé's redemption

Seven minutes after the break, Mbappé collected a short pass from Doué on the edge of the area, turned, and curled a right-footed shot inside the far post. The goal was his eighth of the tournament. Six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé finished a counter-attack with a low drive from outside the box to make it 2-0.

There is only one way to relax and that is by winning.

Morocco's resistance

Morocco, without injured top scorer Ismael Saibari, set up in a compact 4-2-3-1 and briefly improved after a cooling break. Azzedine Ounahi threatened but the Atlas Lions managed only five shots to France's 22. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged the gap.

France is very good, we have to accept it. We were facing a country that had reached the last two World Cup finals. They rarely have had so much talent.

What's next

France reached a third consecutive World Cup semifinal, a run that includes the 2018 title and 2022 final. Didier Deschamps praised his squad's depth and Mbappé's response after the penalty miss. Mbappé was substituted late with a minor ankle issue but said he was fine. France will face the winner of Spain versus Belgium, played on 10 July in Las Vegas.

I think three consecutive semifinals is already a good result, but it seems logical and natural. I have great players.