France 2-0 Morocco: Les Bleus kick off the semi-final race

France are into the semi-finals of “their” World Cup, and they got there with the calm of a side that knows how to wait for its moment. Against a brave Morocco, Les Bleus were patient, soaked up the pressure, then struck twice in six minutes to settle a tie that had promised drama. 2-0, and a ticket to the final four.

(Verified facts — sources: ESPN, FotMob, FOX Sports.)

Morocco had the ball, but not the spark

That was the paradox of the night: Morocco saw more of the ball but barely troubled Mike Maignan. The Atlas Lions built their play and circled the French box without ever finding the opening or the final pass. France, meanwhile, defended deep, clean and patient, inviting pressure to spring out from it.

And in the Morocco goal, one man carried their hopes for a long time: Yassine Bounou. The keeper produced a huge first half, the highlight a saved Kylian Mbappé penalty in the 28th minute. At the break, despite France’s edge in the dangerous moments, the scoreboard stayed blank — and you sensed this Morocco could still believe.

Mbappé makes amends, and it turns

The second half swept the doubt away. Mbappé erased his missed penalty in the best possible way: on the hour mark (60’), he finally broke the deadlock and set a nation loose. Six minutes later he turned provider for Ousmane Dembélé (66’), who doubled the lead and put France out of reach. Two flashes, and the game was gone.

From there, there was only one team on the pitch. France managed it, controlled it, and never let Morocco back in.

Gunners spotlight: behind this win, William Saliba did the quiet work again. Solid, never caught for pace, he wrapped up another clean sheet — France have conceded next to nothing all tournament. The kind of understated display that builds deep runs.

Into the semis

With this win, France are the first team through to the semi-finals. They’ll face the winner of Spain-Belgium, played tomorrow in Los Angeles — a tie that, from an Arsenal point of view, tastes special: Zubimendi, Merino and Raya against Trossard.

The other three quarter-finals follow (Norway-England and Argentina-Switzerland this weekend), but Les Bleus can already look ahead.

The GG take

This was a France that doesn’t panic. Outplayed on the ball for a half, denied by a penalty save, they never wavered and eventually imposed their hierarchy at the right moment. Maybe that’s the mark of title contenders: don’t force it, ride it out, then punish in two actions.

Credit to Morocco, though. Without a Bounou at that level, the gap might have grown earlier; but going forward, the Lions lacked the cutting edge to dream of an upset. France, meanwhile, march on — calm, solid, and growing in confidence. Bring on the semis.