France secured a spot in the World Cup semifinals after defeating Morocco 2-0 on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kylian Mbappé contributed a goal and an assist, overcoming a missed first-half penalty, while Ousmane Dembélé added another goal for the French.

The victory keeps France on track to potentially become only the third nation to reach the final of three consecutive World Cups. Their semifinal opponent will be either Spain or Belgium, with the match scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas.

Mbappé's crucial goal in the 60th minute marked his 20th World Cup goal in his 20th match, placing him just behind Lionel Messi on the all-time tournament scoring list. Dembélé extended France's lead in the 66th minute with his fifth goal of the current tournament.

Despite a penalty miss in the 28th minute, where his shot was saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Mbappé played a pivotal role in France's offensive pressure. He was later substituted in the 77th minute after a challenge, and was seen with an ice pack on his ankle, though he participated in post-match celebrations.

France dominated offensively, holding a significant advantage in shots on goal and shots on target throughout the match. This performance contrasted with Morocco's struggles in transitioning the ball, as noted by their coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who expressed disappointment with the team's inability to advance further.

Morocco, having made history as the first African team to reach the World Cup quarterfinals in 2022, were unable to replicate their past success against the formidable French side. The Atlas Lions had their chances, including a late first-half free kick that went wide.

This quarterfinal matchup echoes the 2022 tournament's semifinals, where France also defeated Morocco with the same scoreline. The French team's consistent performance in reaching deep into consecutive World Cups underscores their sustained strength in international football.

The match statistics highlight France's control, with a 21-4 advantage in shots on goal and an 8-1 edge in shots on target, indicating a commanding performance that ultimately secured their progression to the next stage of the competition.