France ends Morocco’s World Cup run as last Arab and African team standing
Following the loss, no Arab or African teams remain in the tournament.
France defeated Morocco on Thursday, ending the Atlas Lions’ bid to return to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-0 victory.
French star Kylian Mbappe scored the first goal in the 60th minute while Ousmane Dembele scored 66 minutes into the match in Foxborough, Massachusetts, finally getting the ball past Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Morocco was also without one of its key attacking players, forward Ismael Saibari, who missed the match with a hamstring injury.
The defeat ended Morocco’s hopes of matching or beating its historic 2022 World Cup campaign, when the Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semifinals. Morocco entered Thursday’s match as the last Arab or African team remaining in the tournament and, apart from Argentina, the only non-European side left.
The Atlas Lions advanced to the quarterfinals after an unbeaten run through the group stage, finishing second behind Brazil on goal difference. Morocco drew Brazil 1-1 before defeating Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2.
Morocco continued its strong run in the knockout stage, beating Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16 after overcoming one of its toughest challenges of the tournament against the Netherlands in the Round of 32. After the match ended level through extra time, Morocco won 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
France entered Thursday’s match as one of the tournament’s top contenders, having won all of its previous World Cup matches and conceded just two goals heading into the quarterfinals. Led by superstar forward Kylian Mbappe, France seeks to build on its 2018 World Cup title.
France will next face the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium. The semifinal will take place Tuesday in Dallas.
