France beat Morocco 2-0 in their World Cup quarter-final at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, with Kylian Mbappe scoring once and setting up Ousmane Dembele.
Mbappe had a first-half penalty saved by Yassine Bounou before curling France ahead on the hour mark. The goal was his eighth of the tournament, and it moved him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Dembele sealed the win in the 66th minute after Mbappe released him through on goal. The result sent France into the semi-finals and ended Morocco’s run, as France also did at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The match drew 63,811 spectators at Gillette Stadium. France will face Spain or Belgium in Dallas next Tuesday for a place in the final.
Mbappe left late in the game and watched the closing minutes with an ice pack around his right ankle. He now has 20 goals in 20 World Cup appearances, one short of Messi’s overall tournament record of 21.
France kept their third clean sheet in as many knockout matches. Morocco, missing injured midfielder Ismael Saibari, had strong crowd support but lacked a finishing threat.
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Bounou kept Morocco in the match before half-time, saving Mbappe’s penalty and tipping a Desire Doue effort around the post. Lucas Digne also hit the bar from distance before France broke through after the restart.
France are seeking a third straight World Cup final in Didier Deschamps’ final tournament as head coach.
