France booked their place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals after a composed and clinical performance secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals, keeping Les Bleus firmly on course for another world title.
Kylian Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament in the 60th minute before Ousmane Dembele doubled France’s lead six minutes later to complete a drama-free victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston.
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The win sends the 2018 champions into the last four, where they will face either Spain or Belgium at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, next Tuesday.
Speaking after the match, France coach Didier Deschamps said, “I think that is three consecutive semifinals, so that’s already a good thing. It seems logical and natural, but you still have to achieve it.”
“Obviously, I have great players, otherwise we wouldn’t get there, but it’s good.”
France dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, using their pace and technical quality to stretch the Moroccan defence.
Their breakthrough eventually arrived after sustained pressure, giving the former world champions the platform they needed to control the contest.
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The Moroccan team
Morocco, whose remarkable World Cup journey has captured the imagination of football fans around the globe, fought bravely and created moments of danger, but France’s experienced back line stood firm.
As the North Africans pushed forward in search of an equaliser, France kept the pressure to put the result beyond doubt and end Morocco’s historic run.
Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
Although Morocco managed to hold out to halftime, it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off.
Frances next match
Confidence will be high within the French camp as they move one step closer to another appearance in the World Cup final.
With just two matches separating them from glory, the French team continue their pursuit of football’s biggest prize, carrying momentum, quality and championship pedigree into the final stages of the competition.
With this win, France marches confidently into the semi-finals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium next Tuesday.
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Feature Image: Getty Images/ Photo by Etsuo Hara
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