The headlines in Boston surrounded Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé as he took his World Cup 2026 goal tally to eight goals as he scored France’s first goal in a 2-0 against Morocco just before the hour mark in a hard fought quarter-final with limited chances for either side.
The French captain had enjoyed the best chance for his side as he stepped up to take a spot-kick win by the number 10 in the first half. Mbappé went down early after a diving challenge from Manchester United’s Noussair Mazrsoui. A
three-and-a-half minute VAR review followed, with Mbappé made to wait before stepping up.
His penalty was then saved by Yassine Bounou, previously of Atlético Madrid and Sevilla, diving down low to his left. It was Mbappé’s first penalty miss since October’s Clásico and his first for his country since June 2023.
He made amends 30 minutes later as he broke the deadlock with a curling effort from the edge of the box leaving Bounou with no chance as it hit the side netting and gave France the lead.
Mbappé turned provider minutes later as he teed up Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé to add a second for Les Bleus, again from outside the penalty box, before the second period’s hydration break.
Beyond the goal involvements, Mbappé was pivotal to offensive play, creating a match-high four chances, more than any other player on the field, and missing two big chances with the penalty and a shot worth 0.45 xG from eight yards out just minutes before his goal.
The 27-year-old attacker’s involvement then ended early on 77 minutes as he went down with what appeared to be a relatively minor knock to be replaced by Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta. He was then pictured with ice on his right ankle on the bench.
France were without Aurélien Tchouameni, who was rested on the bench as he continues to nurse a thigh injury, and stuck with Roma’s Kouadio Koné in midfield. New Real Madrid signing Ibrahima Konaté was also an unused substitute.
Didier Deschamps’ side will now face the winner of Spain’s quarter-final against Belgium on Friday in a semi-final match-up to be played in Dallas on Tuesday.
