Mbappe misses penalty, but scores a worldie to take France to semifinal

The digital clock at the Boston Stadium had just hit 60. Issa Diop, who had hardly made an error until then, was tight to Kylian Mbappe, preventing the French superstar from having a clear sight of the goal. Yet the Real Madrid man left the Moroccan dumbfounded with a worldie of a goal in their quarterfinal showdown.

In the first half, Yassine Bounou had picked the right spot by diving low to his left to deny Mbappe from a penalty. However, by the time he had sight of Mbappe's 60th-minute curler, as the ball zipped around Diop's legs, it was already beyond him, and even a desperate dive couldn't keep it out.

After their frustrating round of 16 battle with a fierce Paraguay that was decided by an Mbappe penalty in the 70th minute, Didier Deschamps's side had a breakthrough in Boston ten minutes earlier. The French machine geared up, and six minutes later, Ousmane Dembele found himself in a clearing cut by Mbappe, who had dragged a few Moroccans along. Dembele couldn't miss, and the game was done and dusted.

Just like in their 2022 World Cup semifinal meeting with the French, Morocco lost by the same margin: 0-2. The French, who lifted the title in 2018 and lost the final to Argentina in 2022, have booked a third straight semifinal berth.

Morocco had a reputation for being stingy in front of goal in Qatar, where they scored just five times until the semifinals. In North America, though, the Africans had done much better, scoring 10 goals. But tonight they were without their leading marksman, Ismael Saibari, who was injured. It dented Morocco's attacking intent.

Mohamed Ouahbi's side hardly threatened Maignan in the French goal. They took four shots, yet managed just one on target. In contrast, France made 21 attempts and directed eight at Bounou's goal. France did not out-pass the Moroccans (491 vs 508) or swing in more crosses (15 vs 16), but they had the X-factor called Mbappe.

With his eighth goal of the tournament, Mbappe has tied with Lionel Messi of Argentina in the Golden Boot race. His overall tally in World Cups has shot up to 20, just one short of Messi. Argentina play Switzerland in the fourth quarterfinal in Kansas City on July 11. The winners of tomorrow's Spain-Belgium match will meet France in the first semifinal on July 14.