France beats Morocco to reach World Cup semifinal

France advanced to the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinals after defeating Morocco in the quarterfinals. The defending champion held off a disciplined Moroccan defense to secure the result and continue its bid for back-to-back titles. Morocco, appearing in its first World Cup quarterfinal, finished the tournament as one of the competition's standout teams. The Atlas Lions became the first African and Arab nation to reach the last eight of a World Cup, a result widely noted as a milestone for the region's football. Kylian Mbappé, among the tournament's top scorers, anchored France's attacking play. Morocco's goalkeeper produced several key saves, particularly in the second half, keeping his side in the match for long stretches. France will face the winner of the Argentina-Croatia quarterfinal in the semifinals. France won the World Cup in 2018 and is pursuing a second consecutive title.