How France’s Kylian Mbappé beat Morocco to reach the World Cup semi-finals
Mbappé and the entire French men’s national team put in a great performance in their 2-0 win against Morocco.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Kylian Mbappé stood behind the ball at the penalty spot for nearly two minutes.
Argentinian referee Facundo Tero suspended play during France’s World Cup quarter-final match against Morocco while VAR reviewed a foul on the speedy Mbappe in transition in the 25th minute. Mbappé, with his hands on his hips, finally moved toward the ball in the 27th minute.
The Real Madrid striker hesitated once. Then twice. Neither side fazed Moroccan keeper Yassin Bounou, leaving the quarter-final match tied 0-0 going into the first rehydration break.
It was Mbappé’s eighth goal of the tournament and would have drawn him once again alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the epic Golden Boot race.
Not that I had to wait that long.
Mbappé’s goal in the 60th minute broke the scoreless tie and France won 2-0, advancing to their third consecutive World Cup semi-final. This goal, like Mbappe’s others throughout the tournament, was highlight reel worthy. This happened when he converted a pass from Desiree Douai near the top of the penalty area. After stepping into the box, he fired a right-footed shot past defender Issa Diop and into the inside of the right post.
Mbappe has totaled 11 goals (8) and assists (3) through six games, the most in a single World Cup since Gerd Muller’s 13 in 1970.
“Kylian is unbelievable,” said Ousmane Dembele, who scored France’s second goal six minutes after Mbappe, erasing any doubts about who would win. “He’s our captain. I have no doubts. His mentality is great, so we’ll keep scoring.”
It wasn’t all rosy for Mbappe against Morocco. Despite having the space and position to create a great finish in the 56th minute, they were unable to convert the ball that bounced into the box. He was disappointed that the cross he fired with his left foot went over the touchline, but he braced himself for a series of possessions that would ultimately lead to a goal.
“People think that Kylian is basically a dictator who only thinks about himself. But he is an exemplary captain…beyond every goal he scores,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.
There was also a penalty mistake.
“What do you want to know?” Mbappe said when asked about being interrupted by Bounu.
“Well, I took a shot and he stopped it. It wasn’t a good shot. It’s complicated, because there’s some kind of imbroglio. The referee says I have a penalty. I’m asking him if he checked everything. He said yes. So Usman sent me the ball. That is the transition period. ”
Later, Mbappe said the referee got in his way as he was preparing to shoot.
“That’s exactly right. I defocused myself. It’s a scenario I haven’t experienced yet,” he said. “That’s actually the kind of thing you need to think about, because the referee could have said it’s a penalty and then the penalty doesn’t happen. I don’t know. This is part of a new kind of football style. We have to adapt ourselves.”
At 3:08 p.m. ET, Mbappé led his teammates onto the pitch for warm-ups. Two and a half hours later, he left the field with his left hand raised. The 27-year-old left the match after being checked out by trainers fearing injury.
After Mbappé appeared on the field, he was caught on camera icing his right ankle and foot on the bench, but neither Mbappé nor Deschamps were asked about the injury after the game. His on-field celebration may be an indication that he’s in good shape as the semifinals approach.
After all, you’ll need the Golden Boot, and perhaps other hardware, to win.
