​Even on the 70-minute bus ride from Cambridge to Foxborough Stadium on Thursday morning, I wasn’t sure which side I would be cheering for as France and Morocco clashed in a World Cup quarterfinal that would end in a dominant 2-0 victory for France. I had only just returned to the United States from a family vacation that had gone awry in stiflingly hot France, and I found myself in Boston to witness two home nations—France and Morocco—face off for a spot in the semifinals. If Kylian Mbappé carved out a golazo in the opening moments, I expected I’d erupt in the stadium along with many others. If Brahim Díaz of Morocco crafted a setup for an Azzedine Ounahi equalizer in stoppage time, I might even feel happier. If the outcome came down to a heartbreaking penalty shootout, I wasn’t sure how I’d manage my emotions.
In the end, France controlled every facet of the match for 90 minutes. The breakthrough came on the hour mark, courtesy of a wondrous strike from Mbappé just inside the net, a goal that kept him tied for the tournament lead with eight goals so far. The Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembélé, added a second less than seven minutes later, sliding a shot past Morocco’s star keeper Yassine Bounou, who had been outstanding up to that point.
It was all entertaining, but my happiness at watching this timeless France team advance to the World Cup semifinals carried a tinge of sadness for Morocco, whose fans had crowded the stadium and helped create the festival-like atmosphere at Foxborough. Those mixed feelings stayed with me throughout the game.
Ultimately, Thursday’s match served as a much-needed palate-cleanser for a World Cup that had been buzzing with energy, only to dip last week. The mood turned sour beginning Saturday with Paraguay’s tactics and questionable sportsmanship against a much stronger France side, a blemish on the tournament’s aura. Following that, a Paraguayan senator, Celeste Amarilla, directed some of the most racist insults imaginable at France captain and all-time great Mbappé. The country rallied around their superstar, and French prosecutors indicated they intended to pursue charges for racist abuse. Mbappé’s performance on Thursday offered him another moment in the spotlight, earning the man-of-the-match honors.
If that wasn’t enough to shake off the malaise, last week there was further embarrassment at the FIFA level when President Donald Trump pressured FIFA to tilt the playing field in favor of the United States men’s team, only for that team to deliver a performance so underwhelming in a knockout-round match that the fallout was swift and conspicuously awkward. The drama continued the next day when controversial refereeing decisions cost Egypt a potential historic upset against Argentina.
All told, fans were desperate for something uplifting. France and Morocco delivered a much-needed lift and, in doing so, sparked a legitimate rivalry that could benefit both on the field and in the broader storytelling that surrounds the tournament.