France Secure Semi-Final Spot with Convincing Victory Over Morocco
France v Morocco player ratings – France have successfully navigated their way into the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup tournament, delivering a commanding performance against Morocco in Boston. The French side demonstrated their superiority throughout the contest, ultimately prevailing with a 2-0 scoreline that reflected their dominance on the pitch.
Match Highlights and Decisive Moments
The opening half saw Kylian Mbappe step up to take France’s penalty opportunity, but Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced an excellent save to deny the star forward. However, Mbappe was not to be denied for long, as he responded with a magnificent finish that not only broke the deadlock but also propelled him back to the top of the Golden Boot standings.
The second half brought further glory for Les Bleus when Ousmane Dembele surged through the heart of the Moroccan defense before delivering a precise low shot that threaded past Bounou’s outstretched hands and nestled into the bottom corner of the net. This goal effectively sealed the victory for the French team.
France Player Ratings and Performances
Ousmane Dembele emerged as the standout performer for France, earning an impressive rating of 8. The winger displayed intelligent passing and capitalized on his moment in the second half, though he received some assistance from Bounou’s error. His contribution was instrumental in securing the win.
Kylian Mbappe received a 7 rating despite his initial penalty miss. The forward redeemed himself with a powerful and accurate finish that found the inside of the post, demonstrating both strength and precision in equal measure.
Lucas Digne and Adrien Rabiot both earned 7 ratings for their solid contributions. Digne struck the crossbar with a curling effort and provided consistent threat down the left flank, while Rabiot controlled the midfield with composure and made three crucial interceptions to protect the French defense.
Michael Olise also impressed with a 7 rating, producing several electric moments including a clever dribbling sequence that set Mbappe through on goal during the second half. Jules Kounde contributed with forward runs that stretched the Moroccan backline, while Dayot Upamecano had a mixed performance, nearly scoring an own goal in the second half.
Manu Kone and Desire Doue both received 6 ratings. Kone made strong defensive challenges to limit Morocco’s counter-attacking threat, while Doue showed sharpness on the ball but struggled to find the back of the net, particularly in the first half when he failed to convert a promising opportunity.
Morocco Player Assessments
Yassine Bounou earned a 7 rating for his efforts between the posts. The Moroccan goalkeeper produced a crucial penalty save and made several other important stops, though his error allowing Dembele’s goal to slip past him proved costly.
Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan captain, delivered a respectable performance with a 6 rating, engaging in a spirited duel with his former club teammate Mbappe. Azzedine Ounahi also received a 7 rating, attempting to orchestrate Morocco’s midfield play despite limited overall success.
Neil El Aynaoui contributed with three tackles and a block while covering substantial ground, earning a 6 rating. Brahim Diaz was described as bright on the ball with a 6 rating, though Morocco missed the presence of injured Ismael Saibari, who would have provided a focal point in attack.
On the other end of the scale, Noussair Mazraoui and Chemsdine Talbi both received 4 ratings. Mazraoui conceded the penalty with a mistimed challenge after falling for Mbappe’s quick feet, while Talbi had limited opportunities to influence the game and surrendered possession too frequently.
Anass Salah-Eddine managed a 5 rating in a challenging full-back role, doing adequately to contain Dembele for much of the match. Overall, Morocco showed resilience but ultimately could not match the quality and clinical edge of the French side.
