Well, here we are again. France, the reigning champions (and 2022 runners-up, because they apparently like making things interesting), just knocked Morocco out of the World Cup quarterfinals with a neat 2-0 victory. This wasn't just any match; it was a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, which means Morocco probably had some feelings about it. France, however, had other plans.
Morocco, for their part, made history in 2022 as the first Arab and African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal. This year, their impressive run ended a bit sooner. A valiant effort, but France decided it was their turn to keep the party going.
The Investment That Almost Paid Off
Morocco's rise in the soccer world isn't some happy accident. It's the result of a deliberate, rather substantial investment. About 15 years ago, the Moroccan government decided to go all-in, building a state-of-the-art training facility and academy that, according to experts, rivals even France's setup. Because apparently, if you want to be good at soccer, you build a really, really nice place to practice.
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Start Your News DetoxZayn Nabbi, host of the On The Whistle podcast, pointed out that this was a strategic move by the Moroccan king — a bit of "soft power" via perfectly placed passes. It's working, too. Talented players, many with Moroccan roots, are now choosing to play for Morocco instead of flashier European nations. Case in point: 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, born in France to Moroccan parents, was approached by the French national team but opted for Morocco. It seems the allure of European glory isn't what it used to be.
French Efficiency, Mbappé's Magic
France came out swinging, with Kylian Mbappé nearly scoring in the fourth minute. Morocco's goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, had his work cut out for him, making a save on a penalty kick from Mbappé in the 25th minute after a three-minute video review. (Because nothing says "drama" like a VAR decision.) Despite France's dominance, the score somehow remained 0-0 at halftime, much to the surprise of the 64,000+ fans in the stadium.
The second half, however, was all France. Mbappé, clearly tired of the suspense, blasted the first goal in the 60th minute. That was his eighth goal of the tournament, his 12th knockout-round goal (a new record, if you're counting), and his 20th World Cup goal overall. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying.
Six minutes later, France sealed the deal. Mbappé, after a brief tussle that earned Moroccan player Issa Diop the game's only yellow card, passed to Ousmane Dembélé, who sliced through the defense to make it 2-0. Mbappé then exited the game with a slight limp and an ice pack, because even soccer gods need a break. Morocco fought hard until the bitter end, but couldn't quite find the net. France now moves on to face either Spain or Belgium in the semifinal next Tuesday. Because apparently, they're not done collecting trophies.
