Some teams need luck. France just needs Kylian Mbappé to remember he’s Kylian Mbappé.
Les Bleus dismantled a gutsy Morocco side 2-0 in Boston on Thursday to book their spot in the World Cup semifinals — and they did it the hard way, shrugging off a missed penalty that could’ve derailed a lesser team. Instead, it just made the eventual takeover feel even sweeter.
The Penalty That Almost Wasn’t
Here’s where the drama kicked in early. Mbappé drove into the box and went down under a challenge from Noussair Mazraoui, and after a painfully long VAR delay of over three minutes (yes, Haaland was watching from home and had opinions about it ), the France captain stepped up… and blasted a tame effort straight down the middle. Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou made it look easy.
For most players, that’s a night-defining miss. For Mbappé? Just a footnote.
Mbappé Makes Amends — Then Some
France had already been suffocating Morocco before the break, racking up a tournament-best cumulative xG of 1.87 in a single half without finding the net. Dayot Upamecano even should’ve scored from a free header. The goal felt inevitable — it was just a matter of when.
That “when” arrived on the hour mark. Mbappé took a quick look up and curled in an absolute beauty from just inside the box — his 20th career World Cup goal, making him, at 27, the youngest player ever to reach 20 World Cup appearances. Let that sink in.
Six minutes later, France struck again. Mbappé’s driving run opened up space, and Ousmane Dembélé rifled home a low, clinical finish for his fifth goal of the tournament. Game. Over.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Mbappé’s brace-that-wasn’t-quite-a-brace (goal + assist) puts him level with Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot race with eight goals apiece — though he still trails the Argentine by one on the World Cup’s all-time scoring charts. With Michael Olise rounding out a terrifying front three, France now look less like a team and more like a problem nobody wants to solve in the semis.
Morocco’s Heartbreak, With Pride Intact
Morocco simply couldn’t replicate their earlier magic without the injured Ismael Saibari pulling strings, and they didn’t manage a shot on target until the 84th minute — by then, the game was long gone.
Still, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi struck a defiant tone afterward: “We know we represent more than just one country. We represent the Moroccan people, and many countries across Asia and Africa.” Their run may be over, but Morocco leave this World Cup with their reputation only enhanced.
What’s Next?
France now await the winner of Friday’s Belgium vs. Spain quarterfinal for a spot in the final — and on this evidence, Didier Deschamps’ side looks like a team with unfinished business. Third straight semifinal. Same relentless swagger.
Belgium or Spain? Whoever survives Friday night better bring their A-game… because France certainly did.
Man of the Match: Mbappe
