Mbappé stunner ends Morocco resistance to send France into World Cup semi-finals
France defeated Morocco in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals following a standout performance by Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé scored the opening goal and assisted a second, securing France's path to the semi-finals.
Why it matters
As a major international sporting event, the World Cup has significant cultural and economic impact globally.
Kylian Mbappé shows his delight after his mesmerising opener for France. Photograph: Jose Breton/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Kylian Mbappé shows his delight after his mesmerising opener for France. Photograph: Jose Breton/NurPhoto/Shutterstock World Cup 2026 Mbappé stunner ends Morocco resistance to send France into World Cup semi-finals Jonathan Wilson at Boston Stadium Thu 9 Jul 2026 18.13 EDT Last modified on Fri 10 Jul 2026 02.52 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google There is a relentlessness to this France that might make them irresistible. Morocco no doubt had the best of intentions, ideas of how they could hurt the side that had beaten them in the semi-final in Qatar, but France press so well that they soon accepted they had no option but to retreat and endure. France have such attacking quality that simply surviving isn’t really a viable option.
The report focuses on match events and player performance, maintaining a standard sports journalism perspective.
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