Morocco exit World Cup as France advance to semi-finals

France end Morocco's run in the quarter-finals

Your team is out. France beat Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals, ending the dream of back-to-back semi-final appearances (1) (2). The 2022 rematch went the other way this time.

Mbappé was the story after the final whistle. He took a knock during the match and there was real concern about his fitness, but he completed a full training session and will be available for France's semi-final against Spain (1).

France have bigger problems at the back. Upamecano, Saliba, and Tchouameni are all carrying injuries ahead of Tuesday's match, their availability uncertain (1).

Morocco's tournament ends here. Saibari, Mazraoui, and the rest of Ouahbi's squad bow out after a campaign that included eliminating the Netherlands and beating Canada convincingly.

Fan reactions

The Reddit crowd took a philosophical view. "The World Cup has upsets, but it never has an underdog champion," one fan wrote, pointing to Croatia in 2018 and Morocco's own 2022 run as proof that the romance stops before the trophy. The mood is proud but familiar: another deep run, another exit at the hands of a giant. Read the thread.