​After opening day without a single match for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, the knockout stage began in earnest on Thursday with a high-profile clash featuring PSG stars. It pitted France against Morocco in Foxborough, a virtual rematch of the 2022 semi-final. The scene was set for a showdown among Paris Saint-Germain’s heavy hitters, as France’s “French mafia” lined up against Achraf Hakimi and Morocco, while Didier Deschamps handed subs roles to Lucas Hernandez and Warren Zaire-Emery. Ousmane Dembele continued to occupy the right flank, with Desire Doué preferred on the left over Bradley Barcola, who had earned a crucial penalty in the previous round against Paraguay. Hakimi captained Morocco once again.
From the outset, France asserted control and looked likely to strike early. Demonstrating immediate intent, a superb cross from Dembele found Dayot Upamecano in space just inside the area, but his headed effort narrowly missed the target. The first real moment of tension arrived 28 minutes in when Kylian Mbappe, the former PSG star, failed to convert from the spot, leaving the French side perplexed at their missed chance. The confusion deepened seven minutes later when Doué’s close-range shot was saved onto the post, leaving the scoreline still level at the break. A free kick from Hakimi in a dangerous position failed to test Hugo Lloris, and the teams went into halftime with the game still goalless.
The second half brought the breakthrough France had been seeking. Just after the hour mark, Mbappe curled a shot from outside the box into the net, courtesy of a setup from Doué, giving France a 1-0 lead. Six minutes later, Dembele extended the advantage with an excellent strike from outside the box, making it 2-0 and effectively sealing France’s progression to a third consecutive World Cup semi-final. The performance was sealed by a late substitution spree: Zaire-Emery entered the fray for his World Cup debut five minutes after the second goal, meaning only Hernandez from the PSG contingent had yet to feature for France this tournament. Barcola then came on for Doué, ensuring every PSG Alpha contributor saw minutes in a dominant victory.
France controlled the match from start to finish, dismantling Morocco’s efforts and displaying what many would describe as a masterclass in composure and execution. The French now awaited the result of the Belgium versus Spain clash, a tie that would determine their semi-final opponent. The winner of that fixture would meet France on Tuesday at 21:00 CET, with Didier Deschamps’ side rightly favored to advance to a potential third consecutive final. The performance underscored France’s status as the favorites to reach another final in what remains a defining run for the national team.