In a long interview with France Football just a few weeks before the Ballon d'Or, Kylian Mbappé opened up about the players who will shape football in the years to come.
Mbappé then revealed a short list and was full of praise for a certain Lamine Yamal.
"To determine the ten to fifteen best players in the world, I think everyone agrees. Among the youngsters? Lamine Yamal. He has everything [...] I really like Estevao, he has a certain creativity. Here, Arda Güler can go very far. Endrick has potential, he's a goalscorer. Warren (Zaïre-Emery), Désiré (Doué), they're going to have great careers, that's for sure," he explained.
It's a gesture that could prove costly for Memphis Depay.
During the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarter-final between Corinthians and Estudiantes, the Dutch forward lost his cool by making an obscene gesture toward the Argentine crowd after his club's equalizer in the second half.

#mbapp

Having joined Bayer Leverkusen from RC Strasbourg for a reported €30 million fee on deadline day, Guéla Doué will have to wait a little longer to make his debut for his new club.
As Bayer Leverkusen head coach Carles Martinez revealed at a press conference on Friday, the 23-year-old defender will miss Saturday's Bundesliga clash against 1. FC Union Berlin due to an injury.
"Doué has a minor problem. He's not ready to be part of the squad tomorrow," Martinez revealed.
However, there are no signs of a lengthy absence, with the Spanish coach expecting Doué to be back in contention as early as next week.

#strasbourg #bundesliga

His brother has won the Champions League twice; now he himself is being drawn to the Bundesliga. There is likely something to celebrate in the Doué household, as Guela Doué, the brother of PSG star Désiré Doué, apparently is on the verge of a move to Bayer Leverkusen.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and kicker, Bayer are set to pay around €38 million to RC Strasbourg.
The 23-year-old right-back only still has to complete his medical, and then nothing will stand in the way of signing the contract.
That would make the Ivory Coast international Leverkusen's most expensive new signing, overtaking Malik Tillman. Tillman was signed from PSV in 2025 for €35 million.
It would likely be the next transfer coup for Bayer, after media reports had already confirmed the return of Moussa Diaby (just under €30 million). Bayer's transfer spending, which already stands at €99 million, is therefore likely to rise significantly once again.

#bayer #tillman #brother #league

Hamburger SV continue to pursue the signing of KRC Genk right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi as sporting director Claus Costa seeks to resolve one of the squad's most obvious remaining deficiencies before the transfer deadline. According to the Hamburger Abendblatt, HSV have already reached a basic agreement with the 24-year-old Moroccan international.
Belgian transfer reporter Sacha Tavolieri reports that the Bundesliga club are now preparing a third offer for Genk after their first two approaches failed to produce an agreement. El Ouahdi himself reportedly favors the move. Kicker identifies the defender as Hamburg's preferred solution and reports that a deal could cost approximately €13m plus bonuses.
The Morocco international offers substantial attacking production from the right flank. El Ouahdi registered eight goals and five **** ists in 34 league appearances last season, adding another four goals across nine Europa League outings. His potential arrival would also address a weakness that Get German Football News' 2026/27 Hamburger SV tactical preview identified as one of the club's principal unresolved personnel issues.
Following the departures of William Mikelbrencis and Giorgi Gocholeishvili, Bakery Jatta currently stands as the only established option for Merlin Polzin on the right wing-back position. HSV have consequently been seeking a player capable of moving ahead of Jatta in the hierarchy.
Bayer Leverkusen full-back Arthur remains the alternative should HSV decide that El Ouahdi's overall package is too expensive. Florian Plettenberg previously reported that Hamburg had reached a basic verbal agreement with the 23-year-old Brazilian over a season-long loan without a purchase option. GGFN covered Arthur's potential departure as part of Leverkusen's extensive late-window restructuring. Die Werkself are themselves attempting to sign Strasbourg right-back Guéla Doué and are prepared to sanction Arthur's temporary departure.

#agreement #genk #jatta #league

Liverpool are nearing an agreement to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain with a transfer at the final stages.
Barcola has been Liverpool's leading transfer target throughout the summer as the Reds look to strengthen a forward line depleted by Mohamed Salah's exit and Hugo Ekitike's long-term Achilles injury.
Paris Saint-Germain's massive asking price for Barcola has stalled a deal, with Liverpool reluctant to meet the initial £145m asking price. However, progress has been made in negotiations andFabrizio Romano has claimed that a deal is now at the 'final stages' after discussions between both boards.
Barcola has made clear his desire to move to thePremier League and join Liverpool, as he searches for a more prominent role.
The 23-year-old's minutes were limited in the latter stages as PSG defended the Champions League last season, due to competition from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue.

#Paris

>> DOWNLOAD THE 2026/27 GFFN LIGUE 1 GUIDE HERE
At the dawn of another Ligue 1 season, the divide between PSG and the rest has never been so wide. Les Parisiens, in the wake of their maiden Champions League triumph, weren't expected to be challenged. Lens, in that sense, surprised many. Another challenge, either from Les Sang et Or or from elsewhere, would be welcomed but does not necessarily look forthcoming; the perception of PSG's invincibility has only been enhanced by their second consecutive UCL **** le.
Already the best side in the division, the best in Europe, the best team in French football history, PSG exist on an entirely different plane. They have the best starting XI in world football, and their transfer business attests to that, with the second string now the subject of Luís Campos' attention. The likes of Ferran Torres, Maghnes Akliouche, and Mika Godts look to be upgrades on Goncalo Ramos, Lee Kang-in, and Randal Kolo Muani. These are the types of players that will be regularly trotted out in Ligue 1, allowing the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, etc., to save their best performances for those nights under the lights in the UCL.
All the while, the rest of Ligue 1 has, by and large, regressed. Marseille – at the time of writing – have yet to register a single recruit. Hamstrung by restrictions imposed by the DNCG and UEFA, they have been in fire-sale mode. They are guaranteed to begin the season weaker than they ended the last, regardless of what happens in the closing days of the transfer window.
They aren't the only ones. Lens have an Icarus-like quality to them, having run PSG close for the **** le and won their maiden Coupe de France **** le. A little too close to the sun, a little too much success, and they have come crashing down. Pierre Sage has left, as have Adrien Thomasson, Mamadou Sangaré, Malang Sarr, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Welsey Said. Les Sang et Or aren't building from Ground Zero, but the backbone of last season's side has been broken. A replication of last season's success would be miraculous.

#last #maiden #look

>> DOWNLOAD THE 2026/27 GFFN LIGUE 1 GUIDE HERE
At the dawn of another Ligue 1 season, the divide between PSG and the rest has never been so wide. Les Parisiens, in the wake of their maiden Champions League triumph, weren't expected to be challenged. Lens, in that sense, surprised many. Another challenge, either from Les Sang et Or or from elsewhere, would be welcomed but does not necessarily look forthcoming; the perception of PSG's invincibility has only been enhanced by their second consecutive UCL ******* le.
Already the best side in the division, the best in Europe, the best team in French football history, PSG exist on an entirely different plane. They have the best starting XI in world football, and their transfer business attests to that, with the second string now the subject of Luís Campos' attention. The likes of Ferran Torres, Maghnes Akliouche, and Mika Godts look to be upgrades on Goncalo Ramos, Lee Kang-in, and Randal Kolo Muani. These are the types of players that will be regularly trotted out in Ligue 1, allowing the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, etc., to save their best performances for those nights under the lights in the UCL.
All the while, the rest of Ligue 1 has, by and large, regressed. Marseille – at the time of writing – have yet to register a single recruit. Hamstrung by restrictions imposed by the DNCG and UEFA, they have been in fire-sale mode. They are guaranteed to begin the season weaker than they ended the last, regardless of what happens in the closing days of the transfer window.
They aren't the only ones. Lens have an Icarus-like quality to them, having run PSG close for the ******* le and won their maiden Coupe de France ******* le. A little too close to the sun, a little too much success, and they have come crashing down. Pierre Sage has left, as have Adrien Thomasson, Mamadou Sangaré, Malang Sarr, Allan Saint-Maximin, and Welsey Said. Les Sang et Or aren't building from Ground Zero, but the backbone of last season's side has been broken. A replication of last season's success would be miraculous.

#look

Bradley Barcola has been left out of another Paris Saint-Germain squad as the France international continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool and ****** nal. The 23-year-old was not involved in PSG's victory over Aston Villa in the Super Cup or the defeat to Lens in the French Super Cup and has been left out of Luis Enrique's 21-man squad for their Ligue 1 opener against Rennes.
Liverpool are in the market for a winger they and PSG remain far apart in their valuations of Barcola, with the Champions League winners wanting £145m. Liverpool have also been linked with PSG's 18-year-old forward Ibrahim Mbaye, who like Barcola is not part of the squad to face Rennes on Sunday. ****** nal, meanwhile, want to strengthen the left side of their attack and were recently explored a move for Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz.
Barcola faces an uncertain future at PSG, who are demanding £145m for him (PA)
Barcola has played a role in PSG's back-to-back Champions League ****** les under Enrique but faces an uncertain future after the European champions strengthened their attack this summer. PSG have signed three attackers this summer in Spain's World Cup winner Ferran Torres from Barcelona, Belgian winger Mika Godts from Ajax and France international Maghnes Akliouche from Marseille.
All three of PSG's new attacking signings are in the squad to face Rennes as the French champions begin their Ligue 1 ****** le defence. With PSG also retaining the services of Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, opportunities for Barcola appear limited but Liverpool first need PSG to come down from their £145m valuation for the winger as they look to replace Mohamed Salah.

#barcola #left

Paris Saint-Germain enter the season with the expectation that they should lift their sixth Ligue 1 ******* le in a row. However, this week hasn't been ideal preparation for the campaign. On Sunday, a defeat to RC Lens in the Trophée des Champions was followed by the news that the Parc des Princes was unusable for their opening game against Stade de Rennais, meaning this match would have to take place in Rennes.
Luis Enrique would be without Nuno Mendes for this game due to his suspension after he picked up a red card in the loss to Lens. This meant that summer signing Lucas Digne would be back in the starting line-up for tonight.
L'Équipe expects that Digne will be alone among the new recruits, with the rest of the high-profile summer signings: Maghnes Akliouche, Mika Godts, and Ferran Torres on the bench.
Matvey Safonov; Lucas Digne, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi; João Neves, Vitinha, Warren Zaïre-Emery; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué. (L'Éq)
GFFN | Nick Hartland

#digne

Lens stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-0 victory in the Trophée des Champions, securing their first silverware of the new domestic campaign despite playing much of the contest with 10 men.
PSG started on the front foot and controlled the ball, but Lens gradually grew into the contest. The hosts then struck against the run of play in the 32nd minute, with Florian Thauvin arriving at the far post to convert Matthieu Udol's delivery.
Lens' advantage was short on numbers, however, as Kyllian Antonio was dismissed six minutes before the interval for a dangerous challenge on Maghnes Akliouche. PSG almost took advantage immediately, but Désiré Doué saw his effort come back off the crossbar.
Luis Enrique's side continued to dominate possession after the restart but struggled to turn it into clear openings. Ousmane Dembélé tested Robin Risser, while Nuno Mendes also went close from distance as Lens remained disciplined.
The Parisians' hopes of finding a late leveller suffered another blow when Mendes was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident involving Michal Skoras in the closing stages.

#mendes #ball

BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg have signed Genesis Antwi (19) from Chelsea FC, both clubs have announced. The Sweden U21 international right-back is the first Chelsea player to join the Alsatians on loan this summer. Mykhailo Mudryk could follow suit. Antwi has regularly played for Chelsea's Under-21 side in the past two seasons.
The right-back made his first senior team appearances during Chelsea's run to their maiden UEFA Conference League ***** le in 2024-2025. Antwi remained contracted with the Premier League side until 2028. Strasbourg were in need of bolstering their right-back options with Guéla Doué seemingly of interest for PSG.
"The 19-year-old will now spend the forthcoming campaign on loan in the French top flight. We look forward to monitoring Genesis' progress and wish him the best of luck at Strasbourg", Chelsea say.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval

#Chelsea #genesis #league #first

PSG have no interest in making a move for AFC Bournemouth winger Rayan (19), according to Le Parisien. The Brazilian international was rumoured to be of interest for the back-to-back UEFA Champions League winners, but those rumours have been quashed by the Ligue 1 champions. PSG had an interest in RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomandé, but the Ivory Coast international appears destined to join José Mourinho's Real Madrid side.
More movement is expected for PSG to bolster Luis Enrique's attacking options until the end of the summer transfer window. Les Parisiens have reached a €50m agreement with Ligue 1 rivals AS Monaco to sign Maghnes Akliouche. The versatile France international is expected to replace Lee Kang-in – who joined Atlético de Madrid in a €40m move – and bring competition for the right-winger to Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola.
However, the latter could be sold with Liverpool expressing an interest. The Reds are expected to submit a bid to PSG. Meanwhile, the Ligue 1 champions also need a back-up striker after parting ways with Gonçalo Ramos. 2026 World Cup winner Ferran Torres and Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere are billed as the favourites to bring depth.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval

#champions #international #back

Reports in Italy claim that Tottenham defender Djed Spence would be more expensive than Anan Khalaili for Inter, but the Nerazzurri are still willing to open talks with Spurs.
Inter are looking for a replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who has joined Real Madrid after the Merengues agreed to match his €20m release clause.
Inter's primary target, Marco Palestra, joined Chelsea instead, while Khalaili failed his medical tests this week, leaving the Serie A ******* le holders still in need of a new right wing-back.
Gazzetta, Sky Sport Italia and Corriere dello Sport claim that Spence is quickly becoming Inter's favourite target, although the Nerazzurri are still ******* sing and have a long shortlist, which includes Strasbourg's Guela Doué, among others.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – JULY 05: Djed Spence #25 of England clears the ball in front of Santiago Gimenez #11 of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Mexico and England at Mexico City Stadium on July 05, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

For a man who led France with such distinction, it was not a Bastille Day to savour. Didier Deschamps led his country for longer than Charles de Gaulle, albeit in rather different roles and with a less bombastic style. But he is football's most decorated Frenchman on the global stage. On a day seemingly designed for the French, however, his World Cup in effect ended. Spain outclassed France in Dallas.
After 14 years, after this 14 July, his reign only has a third-place play-off to come. There will be no third World Cup for Deschamps as player or manager, no third consecutive final in the dugout. He can retire the dark suit and white shirt he wore even in the 100-degree heat of Philadelphia. He can still figure in the conversations for the best World Cup manager of all, but victory in New York on Sunday could have rendered him the nonpareil.
"It was not important on a personal level if I leave in a semi-final or final," said Deschamps. In a sense, there was no false modesty; Deschamps has not made it about him, always designing his team around his players, not vice-versa. Yet when he reached the end, it was to a side built around a philosophy, a style of play, an identity. In a sense, Deschamps has seemed the ultimate international manager: because international football can be based around building an environment that players enjoy and decided by moments. Kylian Mbappe can be the best moments player in the world, France the best moments team: but there were no moments against Spain, who suffocated the French forwards and passed with intelligence. They were less reliant on the spectacular.
Until they reached Texas, Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise had obliged; against Senegal, Iraq, Norway and Sweden, and then in a six-minute burst against Morocco. It illustrated that France possessed attacking talent of the highest quality in greater depth than anyone else. Olise was outstanding in the first four games, when France scored 13 goals; less so in the last three, when they got three. Dembele, after his 2022 World Cup ended so ignominiously, proved there were second acts in Deschamps' France, with five goals. Mbappe delivered in every match, except against Spain, before pointing the finger elsewhere in the aftermath of this comprehensive loss.
For much of his tenure, Deschamps was deemed a dullard; maybe unfairly, given his sides have scored four and three in World Cup finals. At the last, and even as France barely threatened the Spain goal, he may have perished by being too adventurous. The tournament began with an underlying question if he should bring in a third midfielder, sacrificing whichever of Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola started for more solidity, and with the ***** umption he would do it at the business end of the competition. If ever there was a time to do it, it was against Spain's pass masters. But Deschamps stuck with 4-2-3-1 and, too often, Spain manoeuvred their way around France in midfield. Deschamps' difficulties were

Everyone thought France would crush Spain. They were counting on Kylian Mbappe and that flashy attack to blow the doors off. Wrong. The reality on the pitch was a total shocker. Spain didn’t just match them; they outsmarted them completely. France’s big threats? Totally neutralized by a smarter, hungrier Spanish squad.
Spain showed the world something huge today. Luis de la Fuente called his squad the best team on the planet. His words carried weight after that dominant 2-0 victory. Think about that for a second. This win proves a collective unit can beat a group of individual stars. It’s not about who you have. It’s about how they play together.
The French lineup looked toothless despite the global superstars on the roster. They threw Rayan Cherki into the mix, but it made zero difference. Spain controlled the game from the first whistle to the last. Their strategy worked perfectly against a team full of famous names. And here’s the kicker: They didn’t even break a sweat doing it.
France hoped their stars would do the damage if Mbappe didn’t score. They looked to Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola for goals. Desire Doue also played, but the French attack failed completely. Not great. They couldn’t find any way to break through the Spanish defense. It was a wall, plain and simple.
Patrick Vieira, a former World Cup winner for France, admitted the truth. He told ITV that Spain dominated the game in every single aspect. Spain circulated the ball with their usual composure throughout the match. They moved France around and opened gaps to exploit them easily. Classic misdirection. Vieira knows a thing or two about winning big.

France had dazzled at the World Cup but it was to no avail as a semi-final defeat against Spain on Bastille Day means they will miss the desired ***** le and with it a perfect send-off for their departing coach Ddier Deschamps.
A penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal in the 22nd minute and Pedro Porro in the 58th minute clinched a third straight tournament semi-final win for La Roja over Les Bleus, after Euro 2024 and the 2025 Nations League.
Led by eight-time scorer Kylian Mbappé, the France attack which had scored 16 goals on their way into the last four never got rolling but also faced a formidable opponent in the Spanish who have only conceded once at the tournaments.
Mbappé had their first and biggest chance in the 67th minute but his shot was just deflected wide by Marc Cucurella. Désiré Doué hesitated when Spain keeper Unai Simón was out of his goal and the only noteworthy moment of ***** ist king Michael Olie was a rather reckless challenge against Rodri.
For Deschamps, is was a mixture of unusual mistakes by his players and Spain's class.

ARLINGTON, TX — It finally happened in the 81st minute of a 90-minute match. The most fearsome attack in the world put a shot on target.
France manager Didier Deschamps had headaches selecting which of his top-class attackers to play, putting fearsome foursomes on the field spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé, spurred on by the creativity of Michael Olise and with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé on one wing.
They had smashed through teams, scoring six goals in three knockout matches on the way to Tuesday's semifinal.
Then, it met Spain.
The Désiré Doué shot from outside the box in the 81st and two shots by Dembélé from tight angles in the 96th and 97th minute as France desperately tried to break through were the only efforts they were able to put on Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon over the course of 90 minutes. Once again these teams met in a semifinal. Once again, France is out, with Spain winning 2-0 thanks to a goal on either side of halftime.

France and Spain will kick off proceedings for this year’s World Cup semi-finals in Dallas, as they face off for just the second time in the tournament’s history.
La Roja have conceded just one goal so far this tournament, which came in their quarter-final tie with Belgium when Charles De Ketelaere headed home late in the first half. However, they have only scored 11 goals, which is certainly fewer than most would have expected given the star power they possess in attack and the free-flowing football they adopt so well.
Meanwhile, France have been similarly strong at the back, conceding just two goals, albeit against weaker opposition, whilst still finding the net 16 times so far this campaign. Eight of those have come from Kylian Mbappé, who remains top of the scoring charts for the tournament, whilst the other eight have been shared amongst Ousmane Dembélé (5), Bradley Barcola (2) and Desiré Doué (1).
Didier Deschamps’ men will be looking to become just the third country in history to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, joining West Germany (1982, 1986 & 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998 & 2002). Should they do so, then Mbappé could very well become the first person in history to score in three consecutive finals, having already done so against Croatia in 2018 and Argentina in 2022; he would also become on the second player to feature in three consecutive finals, following in the footsteps of Cafu.
Should Spain make the final, however, it will be the first time they have done so since winning it in 2010, which was their only other appearance at that stage of the competition. With England in the semi-final on the other side of the draw, there is, of course, a chance we see a repeat of the Euro 2024 final, which saw Spain run out 2-1 winners.

Among their many objectives, Milan will rework their wings this summer and are ******* sing a few options, starting with Noussair Mazraoui, who already played for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, Matteo Moretto reports (via SOSFanta).
The chase is in its early stages. There have been no direct contacts between the two clubs for now. The player is under contract until 2028 with an option. The fullback headed to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich for €15M in 2024 and has accumulated 77 appearances, dishing out 3 ******* ists. He had started his career at Ajax.
Milan will eventually decide whether to bid for Mazraoui or target different players. In the meantime, they are open to selling Pervis Estupinan just a year after acquiring him for €20M. Aston Villa have shown some interest. Ideally, he’d leave for a similar fee.
According to TuttoSport, the Rossoneri are eyeing a right-footed specialist. Amorim might use Alexis Saelemaekers on the left flank. They could duel with Inter for Guéla Doué. They have tendered a five-year contract with a €2.5M salary. Rafik Belghali, who has been offered to several Serie A sides after Verona’s relegation, is among the cheaper alternatives. His price tag is €15M.
It’s not one of their most urgent needs, as Davide Bartesaghi is perfectly viable and Zachary Athekame eventually proved to be an okay backup, but they’ll obviously need an addition if they get rid of Estupinan without taking a bath, which is easier said than done. If they really want to blow their tactics up and have all wingers with inverted feet, they should go after an offensive-minded option like Doué’s teammate, Diego Moreira.

Morocco’s fearless belief combined with France’s wastefulness almost turned into a recipe for another upset in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Yassine Bounou (aka Bono), the Moroccan goalkeeper made a miraculous penalty save that kept his from going down early and avoided the scenario of chasing an equalizer from early in the game.
In an edition that has seen the underdog knockout the favorite more than once, this tie had the ingredients for a repeat. But, Kylian Mbappé and co found the next gear to churn out two goals and put an end to any chance of an upset.
Désiré Doué’s duel with Achraf Hakimi saw France regain possession. A brilliant pass from Olise gave Mbappe the option of cutting inside or running past Noussair Mazraoui. The feint from the French captain duped the defender, forcing out a late tackle in the penalty box to stop Mbappé’s run. After a lengthy check, VAR confirmed the referee’s decision of penalty.
A whole three minutes elapsed between the penalty being called and it actually being taken. VAR took an unusually lengthy period of time to confirm the referee’s decision. Mbappé who had been waiting on the spot was at the slight disadvantage due to the delay as his rhythm was repeatedly disturbed.
Bono’s fake movement before his actual dive disguised his true direction. Mbappé who decided to go for a stuttering penalty could not read his opponent. In fact, the pause due to the stutter further confused the striker as he just could not make up his mind. The resulting shot was not only lacking in power but was far away from the corner. An underpowered shot that hardly reached halfway between the center and the corner of the goal turned out to be just the save Bono needed to keep his team alive.

France vs. Morocco player ratings: Live grades as Kylian Mbappe, Desire Doue shine in 2026 World Cup quarterfinal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the expanded, 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup now down to its final eight participants, the first of four semifinalists will be crowned as tournament favorites France will take on African giants Morocco in their quarterfinal from Boston on Thursday.
Kylian Mbappe has been one of the tournament's most electric superstars, second in goal scoring for the tournament with seven, level with Erling Haaland and one behind leader Lionel Messi.
France have reached the last two World Cup finals, winning in 2018 and losing in 2022, and have not been eliminated in the quarterfinal round since 2014 when they were beaten by eventual champions Germany by a 1-0 score in Brazil.
Morocco, meanwhile, became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals when they progressed to the last four in Qatar 2022, but otherwise had never made it past the Round of 16.

And then there were eight. This wild and wacky World Cup that has seen 96 matches played during the course of 27 days has been drama-filled and full of surprises. And now we are at the pivotal time of the tournament when the biggest contenders remain and the stakes are the highest.
Among the four matches in the next three days, there's a rematch from Qatar, two meetings between European rivals with one making its first quarterfinal appearance and the defending champion looking to avoid a third nail-biter in the knockout round.
Which game will be the best? We ranked the quartet of showdowns and broke down the matchups that will determine the teams that will reach the semifinals and those that will go home.
Less than four years ago, these teams met in the World Cup semifinals with France taking a 2-0 victory in a tight match. A few of the stars remain but these two teams are mostly different setups. Kylian Mbappe continues to lead the French attack with Ousmane Dembele. But Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola are getting their first taste of this rarified air. Morocco returns right back Ashraf Hakimi, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and midfielder Azzedine Ounahi. It has been bolstered by the additions of Brahim Diaz and 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Even with France seen as the tournament favorite, this should again be another close contest with both teams capable of scoring multiple goals. Morocco might be without striker Ismael Saibari, who left their round of 16 win against Canada. His absence could be the difference.
Erling Haaland and Norway are having the time of their lives in the United States with their first quarterfinal appearance in the tournament coming after a 28-year absence from the World Cup. The goal-scoring machine will meet some familiar Premier League colleagues and foes in Miami. It's possible England will start three of Haaland's Manchester City teammates from last season - Marc Guehi, John Stones and Nico O'Reilly - in its defense. Perhaps, their knowledge will help the Three Lions. But Norway just isn't all Haaland. Several Norway players have Premier League ties notably midfielder Martin Odegaard of ***** nal, midfielder Sander Berge of Fulham and former Manchester City and current Fulham winger Oscar Bobb. England showed its quality and, most importantly, its heart in stirring defeat of Mexico. The challenge will be different here. They should have more of the ball and will need creativity to break down the Norwegian defense. And they'll have to be wary of the counter attacks led by Haaland that can be devastating. This could be a cagey affair with one or two key plays deciding the victor.

Michael Olise. A name Bayern Munich fans adore.
A name the French adore. A name every fan of the France football team adores. A name the footballing world admires.
PSG and France star winger Désiré Doué, a phenom in his own right, is the latest to join a long list of admirers of the Bayern Munich winger. Olise has had an unprecedented season, and according to Transfermarkt's statistics, already has the record for most ***** ists in a single season EVER, surpassing Messi's peak season. He has 31 ***** ists across all competitions for Bayern Munich and 6 ***** ists for France (5 in the World Cup, 1 in a friendly), taking his tally to a mind-numbing 37 (!!!!!) ***** ists in a single season.
AND HE ISN'T DONE YET.
In a recent interview with Sky Germany's Kerry Hau (as captured by iMiaSanMia), Désiré Doué expressed his admiration for Michael Olise: "He's an exceptional player – you can see that in every single match. He currently has the most ***** ists at the World Cup, which is truly remarkable."

The knockout phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached the final eight, meaning the margin for error has completely vanished.
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France prepares to trade blows with Morocco, and Doué represents one of the most explosive Quarter-finals Differential Picks on the board.

Senegalese youngster Ibrahim Mbaye is keen to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer in search of more game tiime.
Mbaye made just 11 starts across all competitions last season, with Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue being the preferred attacking trio.
Maghnes Akliouche's potential arrival from Monaco could further reduce his game time.
Aston Villa and Tottenham have been linked with the 18-year-old, but the Villans are showing stronger interest, according to Journalist Santi Aouna.
However, Unai Emery's side have yet to make a formal approach for the PSG youngster.

The World Cup: North American Edition continued apace on Saturday as the Round of 16 kicked off with two match-ups: Canada vs Morocco and Paraguay vs France. There’s a Liverpool angle here, I promise, but before we get there, let’s set up the stakes and results, with the winners of each match poised to meet each other in the quarterfinals.
In the opening match of the day, Morocco set up in a decidedly more cagey manner, hoping to draw Canada out and hit them on the counter. Given that, most of the match looked like it belonged to Canada, who did not hesitate to try and bring the attack to their opponent. Unfortunately, the gulf in quality between the two sides – remember that Morocco made it to the last World Cup’s semifinals – eventually took over as the Atlas Lions finished all three of the chances they created, leaving Canada to rue their missed opportunities. A thing Liverpool fans will likely find relatable to our friends in the Land of Maple Syrup.
In France vs. Paraguay, it was a more typical expression of the same dynamic with the underdogs from South America eager to play spoiler and, ultimately, the villain in an attempt to unsettle one of the tournament’s favorites. To their credit, Les Bleus played with the kind of composure and freedom that one might ***** ociate with a club that clearly understands they are among the, if not the outright, best team in the world. They were not drawn into the theatrics nor unsettled by what increasingly felt was a lopsidedly officiated match. Instead, they dug in and worked to force the initiative, finding the result they wanted in the end.
For Liverpool fans looking for any connection, one could be found in that France match as Bradley Barcola again started on the left for Didier Deschamps’ squad. For his part, he looked quite capable as he displayed pace, technique, and strength on the wings. I am, though, quite partial to Barcola’s teammate and countryman, Desire Doue, who ended up coming in for him with a little less than 30 min left in the match. Doue immediately found himself involved in the action by beating his marker with tricky footwork. A mere few minutes later, Doue did it again and drew the foul that led to the penalty kick.
I have no idea about the pecking order at Paris St. Germaine, but based on the very limited footage I’ve seen of Doue in comparison to Barcola, what I saw today is essentially the gap: Barcola looks reliable and capable but Doue contains a hint of magic. And, for me, that last bit is a bit tantalizing.

France superstar Kylian Mbappé said "we know how to play dirty football too" and praised his team for keeping it cool and not falling for Paraguay's attempts to provoke fights and fouls.
"They thought we'd come out to play in tuxedos, that we'd just come out to pull off fancy moves and one-twos. We know how to play dirty football too," he said after the 1-0 win on Saturday.
Mbappé scored the winner from the spot in the 70th minute after Desire Doue was brought down in the box.
"If we have to get our hands dirty, we'll get our hands dirty. We have no problem with that," he said.
The penalty was only awarded after video review and referee Ilgiz Tantashev was criticized by France coach Didier Deschamps for his lenient approach.

PHILADELPHIA — After seeing what Paraguay did to Germany just a few days earlier at Gillette Stadium, France knew what it could expect in its round of 16 matchup.
Les Bleus weathered the test of Paraguay's defense — and the near-100-degree Fahrenheit heat — on Saturday, July 4 with a 1-0 win over La Albirroja at Lincoln Financial Field to move one step closer to finishing off their redemption tour.
"It could have gone another way," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "If we did respond to provocation, it could have been bad. Germany did respond and I said, 'Please stay focused, focus on what we are able to do.'"
France's attack had been humming coming into the match, but Paraguay's compact, "parking the bus" formation and defensive approach threw that off gear. Les Bleus arrived on Saturday having outscored their previous four opponents 13–2, while averaging at least three goals in every one of those outings.
Kylian Mbappe scored the game's lone goal in the 70th minute on a penalty kick after Desire Doué was taken down by Diego Gómez in the box. He now sits at 19 career World Cup goals, one shy of tying Lionel Messi for the tournament's all-time scoring record.

Kylian Mbappe's seventh goal of the 2026 World Cup proved the difference as France saw off a defiant Paraguay 1-0 to book their place in the quarter finals for the fourth successive time.
Mbappe's 70th minute penalty, awarded after excellent work from substitute Desire Doue, was a timely breakthrough for the two-time world champions, who had struggled to break the Paraguayan resolve in searing Philadelphia heat.
The game threatened to boil over in the closing stages, with referee Ilgiz Tantashev failing to deal with a series of excessive challenges on French players, as both sets of players clashed on several occasions.
France will face Morocco in the quarter finals, setting up a rematch of their 2022 semi-final meeting.
Returning to Philadelphia, the scene of their 3-0 win over Iraq in the group stage, France settled into an early rhythm on the East Coast with Paraguay, buoyed by their victory over Germany, looking to frustrate them.

France coach Didier Deschamps hailed his side for keeping their cool against an aggressive Paraguay team in heatwave conditions Saturday as the favourites reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
"It wasn't easy. They used every resource possible. It is maybe not the kind of football that brings people to the stadium, playing with that aggression, exaggerating everything," Deschamps told French broadcaster M6.
Kylian Mbappe decided the game with a penalty in the 70th minute on a sweltering afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, following a foul on Desire Doue.
Mbappe's goal was his seventh so far at the tournament, pulling him level again with Lionel Messi as the joint-leading scorer.
Before that, it had been a frustrating afternoon for Les Bleus, and a sharp contrast to their previous free-scoring matches at the tournament.