Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – France underscored their status as the World Cup’s team to beat on Thursday, overpowering African champions Morocco with a clinical 2-0 win to book their third consecutive semi-finals appearance. Kylian Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament on 60 minutes before Ousmane Dembele doubled Les Bleus’ lead six minutes later to complete a drama-free victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston. The win sends the 2018 champions into the last four, where they will face either Spain or Belgium at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas next Tuesday.
“I think that is three consecutive semi-finals, so that’s already a good thing. It seems logical and natural, but you still have to achieve it,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “Obviously, I have great players, otherwise we wouldn’t get there, but it’s good.” Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final. But Deschamps’ men were always in control against toothless opponents who failed to register a single shot on goal until the 83rd minute, when Azzedine Ounahi’s long-range strike was parried away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
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France struggled to find an early breakthrough, and missed the opportunity to take the lead on 28 minutes when Mbappe had a penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Mbappe had won the spot-kick after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui but was forced to wait several minutes before being allowed to take the penalty after a protracted VAR check. Morocco managed to hold out to half-time but it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off. The breakthrough came on the hour mark, with Mbappe bending a brilliant right-foot shot past Bounou from the edge of the area. Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner.
Mbappe, who was substituted and received treatment for a minor ankle knock, later played down France’s favourites tag, insisting the team’s bid to win a third World Cup was far from complete. “We are in the semi-finals and we are very pleased. There is still a long way to go and we are aware that what awaits is going to be even harder, but we are ready,” Mbappe said.
– Referee chief hits back – Spain, who have not conceded a single goal so far, eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the last 16 and will fancy their chances of overcoming Belgium, who thrashed the United States 4-1 to reach the last eight. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia sounded a defiant note on the eve of Friday’s game, adamant that it was ill-advised to underestimate a Red Devils side that have gradually built momentum. “Everyone is already talking about us going home. But we think that we can do it,” Garcia said. “We think we can pull it off, and we’re going to do everything we can to get to the semis.”
On the other side of the draw, holders Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after staggering into the quarter-finals. The South Americans, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962, advanced to the quarter-finals after an incredible escape against Egypt in the previous round, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2. The victory saw a string of refereeing decisions go in Argentina’s favour, prompting claims from Egypt coach Hossam Hassan that World Cup referees were unfairly favouring the South Americans due to “external” pressure. Those claims were shot down by FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina on Thursday. “Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials,” Collina said. “Nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone.”
The winner of the Argentina-Switzerland clash will take on either Norway or England, who clash in Miami on Saturday. England’s defence faces the unenviable task of having to contain Norway’s irrepressible striker Erling Haaland, who has been in blistering form on his team’s run to the last eight. A relaxed Haaland said Thursday the pressure would be on England when the teams meet at the Hard Rock Stadium. “I think there’s some clear favourites out there, England’s one of them,” Haaland told reporters. “I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.”
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