France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals, but a late injury concern for Kylian Mbappe emerged during the match. Mbappe, who scored and assisted in the game, was forced off the field in the second half.
Mbappe initially missed a penalty but then scored the opening goal for France, marking his eighth goal of the tournament. He later provided an assist for Ousmane Dembele, who scored France’s second goal. The 27-year-old forward was seen going down in the 76th minute while play was elsewhere on the field. He was examined and subsequently replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 77th minute.
Despite the injury scare, Mbappe was able to walk off the field on his own, acknowledging the crowd at Gillette Stadium. He was later observed on the bench with an ice pack on his right foot. Following the match, Mbappe provided an update, stating he was fine and had taken a hit to the ankle, but everything was okay.
Match Dominance and Player Performances
France’s performance against Morocco was described as dominant, with the team spending most of the match in Morocco’s half. Despite Morocco having more possession, France controlled the game, as reflected in post-match metrics such as shots and expected goals. The pass networks highlighted the contributions of Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele alongside Mbappe.
Didier Deschamps, France’s manager, achieved a record 20th World Cup victory with this win, becoming the first manager to reach this milestone. He also equaled Helmut Schon’s record of 25 World Cup matches managed, a record he is set to break in the semi-finals.
Ousmane Dembele expressed his happiness with the team’s performance, noting it was his third World Cup semi-final with the French team. He emphasized the team’s focus on upcoming challenges. Azzedine Ounahi was a standout player for Morocco, creating problems for France between the penalty areas with his driving runs.
Kylian Mbappe’s individual achievements continued, as he equaled Hugo Lloris’s record of 20 World Cup appearances for France. This made him the Frenchman with the most appearances by an outfield player, surpassing Antoine Griezmann. At 27 years and 201 days, Mbappe became the youngest player from any nation to reach 20 World Cup appearances, breaking Wladislaw Zmuda’s record.
Mbappe also scored the opening goal of a World Cup match for the seventh time, a feat only surpassed by Lionel Messi. With a goal and an assist in the match, he became the first player since 1966 to register 10 or more goal involvements in two different World Cups. In the current tournament, he has eight goals and three assists, adding to his eight goals and two assists from four years prior.
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
France will now advance to the semi-finals, where they are scheduled to face either Spain or Belgium. The semi-final match is set to take place in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, July 14.
Mbappe’s status for the upcoming match is a key point of interest following his injury scare. His reassurance to reporters suggests he will be ready for the next stage of the tournament. France has established itself as a consistently successful team in international football, reaching their eighth World Cup semi-final, a number equal to Brazil.
The team’s strong defensive record in the knockout stage has been notable, with minimal chances conceded against opponents like Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco. France’s expected goals against in the knockout stage were 0.7 against Sweden, 0.2 against Paraguay, and 0.1 against Morocco.
France’s schedule leading up to the semi-final included victories against Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), Norway (4-1), Sweden (3-0), Paraguay (1-0), and Morocco (2-0).
Source: nytimes.com
