France advances to World Cup semifinals; Spain, England, Argentina face tough quarterfinal tests

France, a strong contender for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has secured its spot in the semifinals by defeating Morocco 2-0. Kylian Mbappé scored the opening goal, overcoming a missed penalty earlier in the match, while Ousmane Dembélé added a second.

This victory marks France's third consecutive semifinal appearance, following their win in the 2018 World Cup and a runner-up finish in 2022. The team, boasting a star-studded offense including Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Dembélé, was considered a favorite from the outset.

As France advances, other tournament favorites are set to battle for their semifinal berths this weekend. European champions Spain, also a strong contender, will face a challenging match against Belgium on Saturday. Spain has shown defensive prowess, conceding only one goal throughout the tournament so far.

Meanwhile, England and Norway will clash in a highly anticipated match on Sunday, featuring a duel between star strikers Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. Both players have been prolific scorers in the tournament, with Haaland currently third in the Golden Boot race and Kane playing a key role in England's offense.

Lionel Messi's Argentina will also compete, facing a resilient Swiss team on Sunday. Despite a shaky start in the knockout stages, Argentina has relied on Messi's brilliance to advance. Messi is aiming to extend his scoring streak to 10 consecutive World Cup matches against a Swiss defense that has been strong but may be fatigued after a penalty shootout in their last game.