France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco, classifying for the semi-finals for the third consecutive World Cup. At the conclusion of the match, Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi, the captains of France and Morocco respectively, shared an emotional embrace. Beyond a display of sportsmanship, both players were teammates at Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappé in Goal Scoring Race
Kylian Mbappé, despite missing a penalty today, later managed to convert and thus equalled Messi in the fight to be the top scorer of the Mundial 2026. Four players remain in contention and can continue scoring. Mbappé also closely follows Messi in the table of all-time World Cup top scorers.
Evolving Penalty Tactics
There is a race underway in the tactics of penalty kicks. Scoring one is undoubtedly more difficult now. This is because goalkeepers are currently more corpulent and athletic. If a penalty is struck to the correct side, players must hit the side netting with force. Even then, it might still be saved.
Therefore, players must ensure the ball is struck to the opposite side, hence the hesitation: attempting to deceive the goalkeeper into diving the wrong way. Furthermore, goalkeepers possess data. They know what everyone does, and there is no way to hide it.
Morocco’s Challenge Against France
Morocco faced a very strong French team. The coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, believed he would have an advantage when attempting to move the ball forward, despite lining up many midfielders. However, this was not the case, and they created almost nothing.
Ouahbi was indecisive about whether to attack or not. Without their starting striker, a focal point in attack to rely upon, the game suddenly became a duel between attack and defence. It is a learning process for Morocco; they are not the only team to have lost to France. Morocco has faced three of the top eight teams, and it is very difficult to reach a final with so many excellent teams ahead.
Deschamps on France’s Performance
Didier Deschamps, France’s coach, knows that his team has great players. “I have great players, otherwise we wouldn’t get here,” he stated after the match against Morocco. He added that “It seems logical and natural, but you still have to achieve it.”
Deschamps commented that the match was complicated because, after missing the penalty and with the chances they had, they did not know how to take advantage of them. Regarding Kylian Mbappé’s penalty, Deschamps explained: “When it comes to Kylian, there is no problem. He never doubts himself.” Mbappé indeed later converted the first goal of the match.
Following the victory against Morocco, Kylian Mbappé stated: “The objective? I don’t know, but we cannot lower our guard.” He added: “Still a long way to go and what awaits us is even more difficult, but we will recover well.”