​France and Morocco collide in a repeat of their 2022 World Cup semifinal twist, with Les Bleus aiming to reach the last four once more as Kylian Mbappe continues his pursuit of the Golden Boot. Mbappe sits just behind Lionel Messi in the race for the top scorer prize, one goal adrift, and will be eager to extend his hot streak when facing the tournament’s final African representative. Morocco have turned heads on their route to the knockout stages and coasted past Canada in the previous round to book their quarterfinal berth. They also carry the extra incentive of taking down France again after their 2-0 defeat in Doha, seeking revenge on the team that stopped them in the 2022 semi-finals.
Here is everything you need to know about the clash. France vs Morocco is scheduled to kick off at 9:00 pm BST on Thursday, July 9, in Boston. In the United Kingdom, viewers can watch the match live on ITV, with coverage beginning at 8:00 pm BST. A live stream will be accessible via ITVX. The winner of this encounter will advance to the semi-finals to meet the victor of the Spain vs Belgium tie.
Team news and likely lineups add further intrigue to the game. France are juggling fitness concerns with Aurelien Tchouameni still doubtful after missing the win over Paraguay due to a thigh strain, and forward Marcus Thuram also sidelined with injury. A possible France XI could line up as Maignan in goal; a back four of Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, and Digne; a midfield duo of Kone and Rabiot; a creative trio of Dembele, Olise, and Doue in support of Mbappe.
Morocco, meanwhile, may have to cope without Ismael Saibari, who went off early in the last-16 clash with Canada due to a hamstring problem, with Soufiane Rahimi perhaps stepping in to lead the attack. Centre-back Chadi Riad is another doubt for the side. A probable Morocco lineup features Bono in goal; a defensive line of Hakimi, Diop, Riad, and Mazraoui; a midfield containing Bouaddi, El Aynaoui, and Diaz, with Ounahi and El Khannouss providing further invention and support for Rahimi up front.
As the competition progresses, fans will be watching to see which team seizes control and which stalwarts deliver in the biggest moments. The winner of France versus Morocco will not only reach the semi-finals but also set up a tantalizing clash against the winning side from Spain and Belgium, adding another layer of drama to this high-stakes knockout stage.