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Kylian Mbappe recovered from having a first-half penalty saved to score a magnificent opener that set France on their way to a 2-0 win over Morocco in their World Cup quarter-final showdown on Thursday. <\/p>\n
Mbappe\u2019s weak spot-kick was easily saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, but he made up for that by producing a brilliant curling finish to make it 1-0 on the hour mark. <\/p>\n
That was Mbappe\u2019s eighth goal at the tournament, moving him level again with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, before he came off late on and watched the final minutes with an ice pack around his right ankle. <\/p>\n
Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now ><\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n Before exiting, he set up Ousmane Dembele to run through and settle the contest watched by 63,811 at the Gillette Stadium, as France knocked Morocco out, just as they did in 2022. <\/p>\n Their 2-0 win four years ago in Qatar came in the semi-finals, and this time the victory for Les Bleus takes them through to the last four. They will face Spain or Belgium in Dallas next Tuesday. <\/p>\n France are looking to reach a third consecutive World Cup final in their last tournament before long-serving coach Didier Deschampsstands down. <\/p>\n MATCH CENTRE: France vs Morocco stats<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, it has felt like they have eased through to another semi-final and they were too strong for a Moroccan team lacking firepower in the absence of the injured Ismael Saibari. <\/p>\n Mbappe is one of the greatest goal-scorers of his generation, and the World Cup continues to bring the very best out of him.<\/p>\n After netting braces in the group-stage wins over Senegal and Iraq, as well as the last-32 defeat of Sweden, he got the only goal from the penalty spot against Paraguay in the last round. <\/p>\n He has now scored 20 goals in 20 World Cup appearances, within one goal of Messi\u2019s overall tournament record of 21.<\/p>\n More could have been expected from Morocco, who had more of the crowd behind them but lacked a cutting edge in attack as France kept a third clean sheet in as many knockout games. <\/p>\n Nevertheless, they have plenty of exciting young talents – including former France Under-21 captain Ayyoub Bouaddi in their midfield – and will surely be a force to be reckoned with again when they co-host the next World Cup in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal. <\/p>\n On Thursday they were just the latest team to find containing Mbappe at a World Cup to be an impossible task.<\/p>\n The Real Madrid star provoked the penalty as he was scythed down in the area by Noussair Mazraoui after a quick breakaway in the 25th minute. <\/p>\n Argentinian referee Facundo Tello immediately pointed to the spot, although a review was needed to rule out a foul on Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi in the build-up. <\/p>\n It took several minutes to confirm his decision.<\/p>\n The situation left many baffled and frustrated \u2013 even Norway talisman Erling Haaland voiced his concern as he watched the incident unfold.<\/p>\n \u201cNeed to wait five minutes to take a penalty is way too long,\u201d the striker wrote on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cThree minutes 10 seconds between awarding of pen and Mbappe taking it. Absolute nonsense of a delay, completely unnecessary & going to destabilise even a great talent. Next time just smack it in,\u201d wrote ITV presenter Mark Pougatch.<\/p>\n \u201cMbappe pen saved by Bono. Unfair to make Mbappe wait so long to take pen. More than three nervy minutes. Forced to reset. Delay as VAR checked the decision which hardly needed checking, clear foul by Mazrouai on Mbappe. Ridiculous delay,\u201d added journalist Henry Winter.<\/p>\n \u201cRidiculous waiting time for an obvious penalty. Mbappe every right to question it\u2026\u201d said BBC pundit Chris Sutton.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was embarrassing to watch. Why wait that long?\u201d commented X user @LaudoVinny.<\/p>\n Maybe the wait got to Mbappe, whose kick was uncharacteristically weak and easily stopped. It was a reminder that he remains human, just like Messi who has squandered two penalties at this World Cup. <\/p>\n The excellent Bounou frequently kept France at bay in the first half, notably tipping a Desire Doue shot around the post after Bouaddi was robbed of the ball. <\/p>\n Lucas Digne crashed a shot onto the top of the bar from distance as the opening half ended goalless, but France got the reward for their pressure 15 minutes after the restart. <\/p>\n Doue slipped the ball to Mbappe just outside the area, and he controlled before using Issa Diop as a screen to direct a superb strike into the net. <\/p>\n France\u2019s all-time leading marksman now has 64 international goals from 104 appearances. <\/p>\n His lay-off in the 66th minute allowed Dembele to advance on goal and curl a shot low into the same corner, a hand from Bounou proving unable to make it 2-0. <\/p>\n Dembele is the reigning Ballon d\u2019Or and now has five goals at this World Cup, but Mbappe continues to hog the limelight.<\/p>\n Relive all the action in our live blog below! Can\u2019t see the blog? CLICK HERE<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n