How Kylian Mbappe and France managed to break down Morocco's wall in quarter-final victory

[p]In Boston, the promise of a historic revenge by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Atlas Lions[/a] ran up against the pragmatism and overwhelming talent of the [i][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]Les Bleus[/a][/i].[/p][p]France [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/morocco-IDKYO3R8/summary/point-by-point/?mid=jJ5yWPhU"]won 2-0[/a], maintained their dominance, and advanced to the semi-finals, confirming themselves as the team to beat in this World Cup.[/p][image alt="France, led by Deschamps, continues in the World Cup" id="401fc624-de23-4a90-bc1b-94dbc7424c60" credit-line="ODD ANDERSEN / AFP" guid="92b1abf8-5a7c-4d29-b1e4-28dcbeb2aa2f" original-width="6000" original-height="4000" /][h2]The personal duel: Mbappe vs Bono[/h2][p]If in 2022 France's qualification came with goals from supporting players (Theo Hernandez and Kolo Muani), with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a] kept off the scoresheet thanks to relentless marking, the 2026 rematch saw the number 10 take center stage in a two-act drama against goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bono-bounou-yassine/ne0lafKc/"]Yassine Bounou[/a].[/p][h2]Act one: Moroccan wall[/h2][p]In the first half, Bono seemed determined to relive his best days as a national hero. Confident and with sharp reflexes, the Moroccan keeper kept the score level with some tough saves and reached his peak by stopping a penalty from Mbappe, firing up the crowd in Boston and giving the impression that it would be an African afternoon.[/p][image alt="Bono saves Mbappé's penalty" id="69ed1d32-6877-4dab-a50c-dd8c89bcdddf" credit-line="ANGELA WEISS / AFP" guid="eaf074ce-54a4-4e64-9010-e7901a56afad" original-width="4680" original-height="3120" /][h2]Act two: brilliance of the number 10[/h2][p]But stars only need a split second to change the story. In the second half, Mbappe won both the mental and physical battle with the Moroccan defense. In a trademark solo move, the French ace found space and curled a beautiful shot into the left corner, leaving Bono with no chance. The path to victory was open.[/p][p]With this goal, Mbappe reached an impressive tally of eight goals in the tournament, once again tying [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a] at the top of the World Cup scoring charts.[b] [/b]The Frenchman, however, has the edge: he has three assists (11 direct goal involvements, compared to nine for the Argentine star).[/p][image alt="Bono couldn't stop the brilliant placed shot" id="cd23cf58-4d76-4bdb-8839-b11ab0a47d42" credit-line="ODD ANDERSEN / AFP" guid="98ef2998-8035-4414-b8af-d9ffba4d11af" original-width="2067" original-height="1378" /][h2]Differences between 2022 and 2026[/h2][p]Although the 2-0 scoreline was identical to four years ago, the way both teams played made for a very different contest.[/p][p][b]In 2022:[/b] Morocco shocked the world by having more possession (61%) and pressing France in search of an equaliser, forcing the Europeans to retreat and suffer until the final whistle.[/p][p][b]In 2026:[/b] France left nothing to chance. Didier Deschamps' men suffocated Morocco's build-up and dictated the tempo of the game with aggression.[/p][p][b]The dominance in numbers: [/b]By the 88th minute, France had posted a staggering offensive stat: over six minutes of possession in the final third and an impressive 60 entries into the Moroccan penalty area.[/p][image alt="France players celebrate Dembélé's goal" id="430ed1cd-b79c-40d8-8169-9b9f7ecdf742" credit-line="CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP" guid="36b3c68f-daa6-4941-a767-43295087ea3c" original-width="4680" original-height="3119" /][p]It was this suffocating pressure that paved the way for the second goal. After the French onslaught, Ousmane Dembélé found the net, ending any hope of a comeback for the Atlas Lions and sealing the result in Boston.[/p][h2]The road to a third straight title[/h2][p]Morocco's exit, though painful, closes another historic and praiseworthy campaign for Africa's greatest football dynasty.[/p][p]On the blue side, the result only reinforces the favoritism of a generation that refuses to give up the throne.[/p][p]With another semi-final secured, France now awaits the winner of the European clash between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/belgium-GbB957na/spain-bLyo6mco/summary/point-by-point/?mid=MHGPEKi5"]Spain and Belgium[/a] to see who will try to stop the reigning champions from reaching yet another World Cup final.[/p][image alt="France, with Dembele, is once again in the World Cup semi-finals" id="47635c3f-b4fa-494a-aa61-5b02b249c3e0" credit-line="CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP" guid="b4684f4b-b3ea-4185-b542-20ee050b91b0" original-width="3008" original-height="2005" /]