Kylian Mbappé showed the resilience of a champion on Thursday night, shaking off the frustration of a missed penalty to score his 20th World Cup goal and lead France past Morocco 2–0 into the semifinals.
The French star had his first‑half spot‑kick saved by Morocco’s veteran goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who kept his side alive with a string of brilliant stops.
But Mbappé refused to let the setback define him. Just minutes into the second half, he curled a stunning shot into the far corner — his eighth of the tournament — to put France ahead and reignite their charge toward a third straight World Cup final.
Moments later, Mbappé turned provider, setting up Ousmane Dembélé for France’s second. Dembélé, quiet until then, calmly slotted home from the edge of the box to seal the victory.
For Morocco, it was a night of brave resistance. Bounou, already the goalkeeper with the most penalty saves in World Cup history, denied Dayot Upamecano early and tipped Lucas Digne’s long‑range strike onto the bar.
But France’s relentless pressure — 13 shots in the first half compared to Morocco’s one — eventually broke through.
Mbappé left the pitch in the 77th minute after briefly going down injured, but walked off under his own power, replaced by Jean‑Philippe Mateta.
His job was already done: France had secured their place in Dallas on July 14, where Spain or Belgium await.
For Didier Deschamps’ side, it was another step in a remarkable run — becoming only the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup semifinals.
For Mbappé, it was a reminder of why he is football’s brightest star: even when he stumbles, he rises, and when the stakes are highest, he delivers.
