France secured a spot in the World Cup semifinals after defeating Morocco 2-0 in a quarterfinal match on Thursday. Kylian Mbappé recorded a goal and an assist, and Ousmane Dembélé added another goal for the French team.
Mbappé's goal in the 60th minute marked his 20th career World Cup goal, achieved in his 20th tournament match. Dembélé scored his fifth goal of the tournament in the 66th minute.
Earlier in the match, Mbappé missed a penalty kick in the 28th minute after being fouled by Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui. The penalty attempt was delayed by a video review, and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou guessed the correct direction to make the save.
France maintained offensive pressure throughout the game, holding a significant advantage in shots on goal. Mbappé's goal came after Morocco failed to clear the ball, allowing him to score from just outside the penalty area. France's second goal originated from a play initiated by Mbappé, who passed back to Dembélé, drawing defenders and creating space for the shot.
Following the match, Mbappé was seen with an ice pack on his right ankle after being substituted in the 77th minute after a 76th-minute foul. However, he later participated in post-match celebrations with his teammates.
France is set to play either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals. This victory positions France to potentially become only the third nation to reach the final of three consecutive World Cups. The team previously defeated Morocco 2-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, where Morocco became the first African team to reach that stage.