France are just two wins away from another FIFA World Cup crown after producing a professional 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals, setting up a blockbuster semi-final against either Spain or Belgium.
Kylian Mbappé (pictured) once again delivered when it mattered most, opening the scoring despite earlier frustration from the penalty spot. The French captain continued to torment Morocco's back line with his pace and movement before creating the second goal for Ousmane Dembélé, who put the result beyond doubt with a clinical finish.
Morocco entered the match full of confidence after knocking out the Netherlands and Canada, hoping to recreate another famous World Cup upset. Instead, Didier Deschamps' side controlled possession, pressed aggressively, and rarely allowed the Atlas Lions to settle into their rhythm. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced several excellent saves to keep Morocco alive, but France's relentless pressure eventually proved too much.
For sports bettors, France once again justified their status as tournament favourites. The pre-match market heavily backed Les Bleus, and their attack continued to reward those expecting goals. Mbappé remains firmly in the spotlight in the Golden Boot race, while Dembélé's growing influence gives France another dangerous scoring outlet heading into the final four.
Attention now turns to a mouthwatering semi-final. Whether France face Spain's possession-based brilliance or Belgium's experienced golden generation, bookmakers are likely to keep the reigning European giants among the favorites to lift the trophy. With Mbappé in electric form and France yet to truly hit top gear, bettors will be watching the outright winner, goalscorer and player performance markets very closely.
Momentum is firmly with Les Bleus, and after another composed knockout display, they look every bit like a team capable of adding a third World Cup title to their illustrious history.
Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/09/morocco-france-world-cup-quarter-final-match-report
