France have advanced to the World Cup semi-finals following a comfortable victory over Morocco. Former Scotland striker Ally McCoist on ITV stated that France “definitely deserved the win” and possessed “a lot more in their locker.” BBC Sport’s Sam Harris at Boston Stadium echoed this sentiment, with his producer Vicki-Jane remarking, “A bit too easy, that wasn’t it,” a point Harris agreed “nail on the head.”
France were described as “far superior to the last African side standing,” asserting that “it’ll take something special to beat the 2018 winners.” This triumph marks France’s third successive World Cup semi-final, positioning them two wins away from lifting the trophy once more.
Morocco’s Challenge Falls Short
For Morocco, the match ended in heartbreak as they were “second best all game.” Pat Nevin, former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live, expressed his disappointment with Morocco’s performance, noting they “offered virtually nothing up top.” The game was largely “one-sided,” with France registering 20 attempts on goal.
Nevin went as far as to question if Morocco “had a Plan B,” or even “a Plan A to begin with.” Despite some moments, such as Mike Maignon dealing with a Moroccan attack and William Saliba hacking clear, Morocco struggled to create sustained pressure. Lucas Digne also spooned a clearance behind for a corner, highlighting some of the defensive actions taken by France.
French Control and Individual Brilliance
France demonstrated strong control throughout the game, with Sam Harris observing they “haven’t got out of second gear.” The team “controlled the game beautifully and did not let Morocco in at all,” a strategy that allowed them to conserve energy. This energy conservation is “golden” in the “very, very warm” conditions of the World Cup, where players can become “tired and jaded.”
Kylian Mbappe was singled out by Ally McCoist, who called him a “Decent player that bloke” and noted he was “on a mission this tournament.” McCoist added that “one hell of a hit” was what it was going to take, referring to Mbappe’s impact. Mbappe also won a penalty for France during the match.
On the field, Jean-Philippe Mateta had several attempts; he “miskicked” an effort after setting up the chance, and later “scuffs his effort” when played in by Warren Zaire-Emery, leading to a save by Bono. Mateta also got up high but “heads over the top.” Bradley Barcola, after coming on, “looks sharp” and “tests the reflexes of Bono,” who palmed his effort wide. Substitutions included Malo Gusto replacing Jules Kounde and Amine Sbai coming on for Chemsdine Talbi.
Looking Ahead: Semi-Finals and Beyond
As France comfortably secured their progression, discussions among reporters at Boston Stadium turned to identifying their biggest challenge. Sam Harris cast his vote for Spain, though “quite a few of the reporters not ruling out England.” Pat Nevin highlighted that a potential semi-final between France and Spain is “one to mark on the calendar.”
French fans at the stadium were clearly “loving life right now,” dressed in blue with flags raised in the sky, evidently fancying their team “going all the way.” France’s ability to cruise through this match without being stretched towards the end could “make such a difference” as the tournament progresses.
The French squad’s comfortable performance, marked by efficiency and energy conservation, places them in a strong position as they aim for another World Cup trophy.