France Eye Semi-Final Berth as Morocco Seek Another World Cup Upset

France will renew their FIFA World Cup rivalry with Morocco on Thursday as the two nations battle for a place in the semi-finals, with Didier Deschamps’ side entering the contest as favourites to continue their pursuit of another world title.

The quarter-final, scheduled to be played at Gillette Stadium in Boston, marks the first World Cup meeting between the sides since France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

France have impressed throughout the competition, combining attacking flair with defensive resilience.

After scoring 13 goals across victories over Senegal, Iraq, Norway and Sweden, Les Bleus showed a different side in the Round of 16, grinding out a 1-0 win over Paraguay courtesy of a second-half penalty from Kylian Mbappe.

The result highlighted France’s ability to manage difficult knockout fixtures, reinforcing their status as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Morocco, meanwhile, continue to build on the momentum generated by their historic run at the 2022 World Cup. Now under the guidance of head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the Atlas Lions have combined disciplined defending with an increasingly potent attack.

Their credentials were underlined in the Round of 16 with an impressive 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada, a performance that showcased their effectiveness on the counter-attack while maintaining their defensive organisation.

France are expected to retain the core of the side that defeated Paraguay. Midfielder Manu Kone is likely to continue alongside Adrien Rabiot, while Desire Doue is pushing for a starting place after making a decisive impact from the bench by winning the penalty that secured victory in the previous round.

Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele are expected to spearhead the attack, with Mike Maignan set to start in goal behind a back four comprising Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Lucas Digne.

Morocco could be forced into at least one change after Ismael Saibari sustained an injury during the win over Canada. Soufiane Rahimi is expected to deputise if Saibari is unavailable, while Azzedine Ounahi is set to continue in an advanced midfield role after his standout performance in the previous round.

Defender Chadi Riad is also pushing for a return from injury and could strengthen Morocco’s backline alongside Issa Diop, with Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou expected to retain their places.

France hold the historical advantage in meetings between the two nations, remaining unbeaten in two previous senior international encounters. Their most notable meeting came in the 2022 World Cup semi-final, when Les Bleus claimed a 2-0 victory before progressing to the final. The only other meeting ended in a 2-2 draw in an international friendly in 2007.