World Cup: Mbappe, Dembele end Morocco’s dream as France reach semi-finals

France ended Morocco's World Cup dream on Thursday, securing a clinical 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals to advance to the semi-finals for the third consecutive edition of the tournament. The Atlas Lions, who had hoped to build on their historic 2022 semi-final appearance, were ultimately outplayed by Didier Deschamps' formidable side.

The match was tense, with France dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was a standout performer, brilliantly saving a penalty from Kylian Mbappé in the first half after a lengthy VAR review. Bounou's heroics kept Morocco in the game, making him the first Moroccan goalkeeper to save a penalty during normal play at a World Cup.

Despite the missed penalty, France continued to apply pressure. The deadlock was finally broken in the 60th minute when Mbappé atoned for his earlier miss, scoring a powerful goal from outside the box. Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled France's lead with a precise shot into the bottom corner, securing the win.

Mbappé's goal was his eighth of the tournament and his 20th World Cup goal overall, placing him second on the all-time scoring list behind Lionel Messi. He also achieved a personal milestone, becoming the first player since 1966 to register 10 goal involvements in two different World Cups. While Morocco pushed for a comeback, France's disciplined defense held firm, concluding another impressive campaign that highlighted the growing strength of African football.