France is into the last four, and it got there behind its biggest star, though the night ended with a worry that could shadow the rest of its tournament.
Mbappé makes the difference
After a scoreless first half in which Mbappé missed a penalty, France broke through in the second, ESPN reported. Mbappé scored to put France ahead and then turned provider, setting up Ousmane Dembélé to make it 2-0, CNN reported. It was the kind of response, a missed spot kick answered by a decisive hand in both goals, that has defined Mbappé's role for France.
The worry
The concern came late, when Mbappé went off with an apparent ankle injury, ESPN reported. France did not immediately put a diagnosis on it, and coach Didier Deschamps was expected to say more in the days ahead, but for a team leaning heavily on its captain, the sight of him hurt took some of the shine off a comfortable win. Mbappé leads the tournament's scoring race, and his fitness now becomes the story France would rather not be discussing.
Morocco's run ends
For Morocco, the defeat closed a tournament that had again shown the team's rise. Reaching the quarterfinals extended a run of strong World Cup showings, but against a France side controlling the game, the Moroccans could not find the goal that might have changed it. They leave with credit, and without the upset they had chased.
What's next
France advances to the semifinals, where it will meet the winner of Spain and Belgium, who play their quarterfinal on Friday, CNN reported. Les Bleus have the pedigree and the talent to go all the way; whether they have a fully fit Mbappé to do it with is the question they will carry into the next round.
