FOXBORO — Thursday afternoon saw France close this World Cup chapter at Boston Stadium in grand style.
Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé both netted brilliant goals in the second half while Morocco was swept aside. It was something approaching a sequel to the 2022 semifinal meeting between the two nations, one ultimately decided by the same score.
France departed under warm sunshine with a 2-0 quarterfinal victory and the crowd of 63,811 fans witnessed another argument as to why they now hold firm favorite status in this tournament. Dembélé’s hat trick against Norway during the group stages here offered a first piece of evidence and a return for the knockout rounds proved to be just another step.
“We are in our own bubble here — myself especially,” France manager Didier Deschamps said via translator. “I want to remain calm and collected. But the players have a duty to give everything on the pitch.
“At times, we’re not succeeding, but we have now taken another step today — again reaching the semifinals. And now we’re here.”
Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé both netted brilliant goals in the second half while Morocco was swept aside. It was something approaching a sequel to the 2022 semifinal meeting between the two nations, one ultimately decided by the same score.
France departed under warm sunshine with a 2-0 quarterfinal victory and the crowd of 63,811 fans witnessed another argument as to why they now hold firm favorite status in this tournament. Dembélé’s hat trick against Norway during the group stages here offered a first piece of evidence and a return for the knockout rounds proved to be just another step.
“We are in our own bubble here — myself especially,” France manager Didier Deschamps said via translator. “I want to remain calm and collected. But the players have a duty to give everything on the pitch.
“At times, we’re not succeeding, but we have now taken another step today — again reaching the semifinals. And now we’re here.”
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