The goalkeeper who has saved more World Cup penalties than anyone could not stop France: Mbappe and Dembele seal semi-final spot

France bushed Morocco 2-0 connected Thursday successful the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.

The lucifer was defined by the duel betwixt Mbappe and Bono. The Moroccan goalkeeper saved the French captain's punishment successful the archetypal fractional to springiness the Atlas Lions hope, but the fig 10 struck successful the 2nd play — drafting level with Lionel Messi astatine the apical of the Golden Boot standings and becoming the archetypal subordinate successful past to scope 100 extremity involvements for France with 64 goals and 36 assists.

France vs Morocco: How the lucifer unfolded

France dominated from the start. The two-time satellite champions registered 13 shots and 3 clear-cut chances successful the opening play alone, portion Morocco managed conscionable 1 effort connected Mike Maignan's goal, and with nary genuine information attached to it.

Their dominance was exercised successful characteristically French manner — not done slow, deliberate possession but by targeting abstraction successful unfastened play. Deschamps' broadside allowed Morocco to person the ball, pressing aggressively to triumph it backmost adjacent the absorption extremity oregon successful the midfield zone, wherever determination was country to accelerate.

The large spot of this procreation of French players lies successful their attraction of quick, originative and technically talented individuals successful one-on-one situations. That was reflected successful the astir unsafe first-half moments — Desire Doue driving past his antheral earlier being denied by Bono, and Mbappe breaking successful down to gain and instrumentality the penalty.

With the spot footwear saved, France were incapable to unfastened the scoring and recovered it progressively hard to penetrate the Moroccan container with immoderate regularity. Morocco, for their part, followed a strategy akin to the 1 that had worked against Brazil — sitting successful a heavy artifact without the ball, denying abstraction betwixt the lines and looking to interruption connected the counter.

The Atlas Lions had periods of extended possession but could ne'er make freely nether French pressure, nor find the decisive infinitesimal connected the counter-attack. The French goals successful the 2nd fractional — from Mbappe and Dembele — came successful precisely the mode France prefer: successful transition.

France vs Morocco: Bono's first-half heroics are not enough

Bono was the standout fig of the opening play with his punishment prevention from Mbappe. Beyond stopping the tournament's starring scorer, the Moroccan seasoned besides extended a singular statistical record. No goalkeeper has saved much penalties astatine a World Cup — including shootouts — than Bono, who present stands astatine four. Of the 9 penalties helium has faced successful the competition, lone 2 person beaten him, with a further 3 missing the people entirely.

? Locked successful for the Quarter-final.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/fMStZsxjcJ

It was not enough, however, to forestall France from winning. After the punishment stop, Bono besides produced a good prevention from a Doue effort, but helium was beaten doubly from extracurricular the container successful the 2nd half.

What comes adjacent for France

France present await the victor of Friday's Spain versus Belgium quarter-final to observe their semi-final opponent. That semi-final volition instrumentality spot adjacent Tuesday astatine Gillette Stadium successful Foxborough.

On people for a 3rd World Cup last successful 3 editions of the tournament, France stay the commanding favourites. Having reached the semi-finals with high-level performances successful each game, Deschamps' broadside springiness the content that nary hostile tin presently lucifer them connected level terms.

Spain and Argentina person been the astir credible rivals connected insubstantial since earlier the tourney began. The Spaniards could conscionable France successful the semi-finals, portion a clash with Argentina would lone get successful the last — a rematch of the 2022 decider.

Dembele makes it ✌️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/YpXpvamIgD