Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Didier Deschamps praised Kylian Mbappé and France’s mentality after the defending finalists beat Morocco 2-0 at Boston Stadium to reach a third straight FIFA World Cup semi-final.
Mbappé missed a first-half penalty but later scored a stunning opener before Ousmane Dembélé sealed the quarter-final win six minutes later.
The result built on France’s strong knockout form, following France vs Morocco highlights from a match controlled by Deschamps’ side after half-time.
Deschamps Salutes France Mentality
France dominated early but wasted chances before Mbappé finally broke Morocco’s resistance. Deschamps said reaching another semi-final still demanded work, even for a squad used to this stage.
“That’s three semi-finals in a row,” he said. “That’s already good. But even though it seems logical and natural for us to be here you still have to achieve it.”
“My credit goes to the players but maybe I do my job well,” Deschamps said. “This is a human venture we are sharing. The only truth is the one on the pitch but the human aspect is extremely important. It’s not copy and paste. It’s never the same situation or conditions. The most important thing in my life has always been the jersey and it’s good to see this group feel the same way.”
Official tournament news and fixtures are available through the FIFA World Cup.
Mbappé Earns Captain’s Praise
Mbappé’s penalty miss could have shifted the night, but France kept pressing and their captain responded with the goal that changed the match.
“It was tough today with the penalty, all the chances we didn’t take,” said Deschamps. “But when it’s Kylian, there’s no problem, he never hesitates – even though he’d already missed a chance. Many people say that Kylian is a dictator, that he only thinks of himself. But he’s the captain and he’s exemplary.”
Mbappé was taken off with 13 minutes left after ankle discomfort, while Manu Koné also went off with a knee knock and cramps.
Morocco Look Ahead
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi admitted France had greater control but urged calm after another strong tournament.
“They ended up being in a comfort zone,” said Ouahbi.
“Let’s not panic,” he said. “Let’s see what we can improve and move forward. We have a good group of young players. We have a good federation. We have a king who invests a lot which is why we are here. Maybe we can beat them at the World Cup in four years.”
