by Craig Laycock
Original article:
France 2 - 0 Morocco
Mbappe (60'), Dembele (66')
A pair of quickfire second-half goals ended Morocco’s World Cup dream and denied them a second consecutive semi-finals appearance, with favourites France storming through to face either Spain or Belgium next.
Morocco came into the game with a gameplan to neutralise France with their physicality and organisation, and counter-attack where possible. But in truth they were not aggressive enough with or without the ball, and France were able to imprint themselves on the game far more assertively.
In fact, France could have ended the game even further ahead had it not been for Kylian Mbappe’s missed penalty, with Morocco keeper Bounou keeping his side in the game for large parts of it.
France started well, too, having had a 25-yard effort from Mbappe pushed around the post, and a subsequent save from an Upamecano header from the resultant corner. Soon enough, France thought they had the breakthrough they were looking for when Mbappe was pulled down.
Three minutes elapsed between the penalty being awarded and Mbappe taking the penalty, perhaps due to increased VAR scrutiny at the Quarter Final stage (there were 9 officials in total involved with the game). They checked for a foul, but couldn’t find anything amiss.
Whether that delay affected Mbappe is hard to say, but he fluffed his penalty, scuffing it into an easily saveable space for Bounou in the Moroccan net.
It looked like it might be one of those games, with Morocco sitting deep and defending resolutely and France trying to rotate the ball around looking for an opportunity that might only end up coming in extra time.
But they needn’t have worried. After a succession of chances, France took the lead in the 60th minute with a wonderful curling Mbappe shot. Just six minutes later, Dembele effectively hammered the last nail in the coffin for Morocco with a low effort that the otherwise excellent Bounou probably should have saved.
Mbappe and France didn’t get it all their own way though. Their star striker was substituted in the 77th minute and appeared to have ice on his ankle, which will be a concern for manager Didier Deschamps.
They face Belgium or Spain in the semi-final, while Morocco will perhaps rue what could have been with a more proactive game plan.
5 min read
France 2 - 0 Morocco
Mbappe (60'), Dembele (66')
A pair of quickfire second-half goals ended Morocco’s World Cup dream and denied them a second consecutive semi-finals appearance, with favourites France storming through to face either Spain or Belgium next.
Morocco came into the game with a gameplan to neutralise France with their physicality and organisation, and counter-attack where possible. But in truth they were not aggressive enough with or without the ball, and France were able to imprint themselves on the game far more assertively.
In fact, France could have ended the game even further ahead had it not been for Kylian Mbappe’s missed penalty, with Morocco keeper Bounou keeping his side in the game for large parts of it.
France started well, too, having had a 25-yard effort from Mbappe pushed around the post, and a subsequent save from an Upamecano header from the resultant corner. Soon enough, France thought they had the breakthrough they were looking for when Mbappe was pulled down.
Three minutes elapsed between the penalty being awarded and Mbappe taking the penalty, perhaps due to increased VAR scrutiny at the Quarter Final stage (there were 9 officials in total involved with the game). They checked for a foul, but couldn’t find anything amiss.
Whether that delay affected Mbappe is hard to say, but he fluffed his penalty, scuffing it into an easily saveable space for Bounou in the Moroccan net.
It looked like it might be one of those games, with Morocco sitting deep and defending resolutely and France trying to rotate the ball around looking for an opportunity that might only end up coming in extra time.
But they needn’t have worried. After a succession of chances, France took the lead in the 60th minute with a wonderful curling Mbappe shot. Just six minutes later, Dembele effectively hammered the last nail in the coffin for Morocco with a low effort that the otherwise excellent Bounou probably should have saved.
Mbappe and France didn’t get it all their own way though. Their star striker was substituted in the 77th minute and appeared to have ice on his ankle, which will be a concern for manager Didier Deschamps.
They face Belgium or Spain in the semi-final, while Morocco will perhaps rue what could have been with a more proactive game plan.
Quarter Final: France 2 - 0 Morocco
Who can stop them?
Original article:
France 2 - 0 Morocco
Mbappe (60'), Dembele (66')
A pair of quickfire second-half goals ended Morocco’s World Cup dream and denied them a second consecutive semi-finals appearance, with favourites France storming through to face either Spain or Belgium next.
Morocco came into the game with a gameplan to neutralise France with their physicality and organisation, and counter-attack where possible. But in truth they were not aggressive enough with or without the ball, and France were able to imprint themselves on the game far more assertively.
In fact, France could have ended the game even further ahead had it not been for Kylian Mbappe’s missed penalty, with Morocco keeper Bounou keeping his side in the game for large parts of it.
France started well, too, having had a 25-yard effort from Mbappe pushed around the post, and a subsequent save from an Upamecano header from the resultant corner. Soon enough, France thought they had the breakthrough they were looking for when Mbappe was pulled down.
Three minutes elapsed between the penalty being awarded and Mbappe taking the penalty, perhaps due to increased VAR scrutiny at the Quarter Final stage (there were 9 officials in total involved with the game). They checked for a foul, but couldn’t find anything amiss.
Whether that delay affected Mbappe is hard to say, but he fluffed his penalty, scuffing it into an easily saveable space for Bounou in the Moroccan net.
It looked like it might be one of those games, with Morocco sitting deep and defending resolutely and France trying to rotate the ball around looking for an opportunity that might only end up coming in extra time.
But they needn’t have worried. After a succession of chances, France took the lead in the 60th minute with a wonderful curling Mbappe shot. Just six minutes later, Dembele effectively hammered the last nail in the coffin for Morocco with a low effort that the otherwise excellent Bounou probably should have saved.
Mbappe and France didn’t get it all their own way though. Their star striker was substituted in the 77th minute and appeared to have ice on his ankle, which will be a concern for manager Didier Deschamps.
They face Belgium or Spain in the semi-final, while Morocco will perhaps rue what could have been with a more proactive game plan.
5 min read
Quarter Final: France 2 - 0 Morocco
Who can stop them?
France 2 - 0 Morocco
Mbappe (60'), Dembele (66')
A pair of quickfire second-half goals ended Morocco’s World Cup dream and denied them a second consecutive semi-finals appearance, with favourites France storming through to face either Spain or Belgium next.
Morocco came into the game with a gameplan to neutralise France with their physicality and organisation, and counter-attack where possible. But in truth they were not aggressive enough with or without the ball, and France were able to imprint themselves on the game far more assertively.
In fact, France could have ended the game even further ahead had it not been for Kylian Mbappe’s missed penalty, with Morocco keeper Bounou keeping his side in the game for large parts of it.
France started well, too, having had a 25-yard effort from Mbappe pushed around the post, and a subsequent save from an Upamecano header from the resultant corner. Soon enough, France thought they had the breakthrough they were looking for when Mbappe was pulled down.
Three minutes elapsed between the penalty being awarded and Mbappe taking the penalty, perhaps due to increased VAR scrutiny at the Quarter Final stage (there were 9 officials in total involved with the game). They checked for a foul, but couldn’t find anything amiss.
Whether that delay affected Mbappe is hard to say, but he fluffed his penalty, scuffing it into an easily saveable space for Bounou in the Moroccan net.
It looked like it might be one of those games, with Morocco sitting deep and defending resolutely and France trying to rotate the ball around looking for an opportunity that might only end up coming in extra time.
But they needn’t have worried. After a succession of chances, France took the lead in the 60th minute with a wonderful curling Mbappe shot. Just six minutes later, Dembele effectively hammered the last nail in the coffin for Morocco with a low effort that the otherwise excellent Bounou probably should have saved.
Mbappe and France didn’t get it all their own way though. Their star striker was substituted in the 77th minute and appeared to have ice on his ankle, which will be a concern for manager Didier Deschamps.
They face Belgium or Spain in the semi-final, while Morocco will perhaps rue what could have been with a more proactive game plan.
5 min read