Kylian Mbappe again proved decisive for France, scoring one goal and assisting another in their 2-0 victory over Morocco to reach the World Cup semi-finals. The win, however, came after Mbappe missed a first-half penalty.
Despite the pressure, Mbappe opened the scoring in the 60th minute and then set up Ousmane Dembele for France's second goal six minutes later. This secured France's progression despite a Moroccan team that appeared leaden and lacked ambition, according to reports. For all the pre-match talk of Morocco wanting to host the 2030 World Cup final as champions, their performance on the field was described as poor, with their low block and compact setup demonstrating less ambition than in previous stages.
Morocco's attacking accuracy and technical level on the counter-attack were deemed pitifully poor, exacerbated by the absence of a fit striker. Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz was noted as an exception in an otherwise uninspired display.
Mbappe's leadership has been a standout feature of the tournament, with reports suggesting he leads the French side more than other superstars lead their teams. While his penalty miss was a moment of concern, he quickly recovered to provide a moment of brilliance for his goal, threading a shot past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. The margin for error on his strike was described as virtually nil.
While France has shown a heavy dependency on Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele's performance offered signs of increased attacking threat from other players. Dembele's goal, a strike into the bottom corner, suggested he can contribute significantly, potentially easing concerns about France's reliance on their star forward. The article notes that should France face Spain in the semi-finals, both Dembele and Michael Olise will need to perform at a high level.
VAR Controversy and Officiating
The match was briefly marred by a VAR review for Mbappe's penalty, which lasted over three minutes. This delay was criticized as detrimental, leaving Mbappe waiting on the spot in the heat and adding to the frustration.
The officiating team, which was entirely Argentinian, faced scrutiny amid Moroccan support in the stadium. However, the referee was described as straight and fair, particularly after an early incident where Brahim Diaz took a dive, which the referee correctly waved play on. Morocco's approach, not attempting to physically disrupt France, also contributed to a smoother game.
Morocco's Future Outlook
Morocco's World Cup journey may be over for this tournament, but there is ambition for future hosting bids, potentially for the 2030 final. However, to become consistent challengers, the team needs to develop beyond being merely the sum of their European-based diaspora, with Real Madrid's Diaz being a notable exception to the general technical level observed.
