Deschamps beaming as France book third successive semi-final spot - Mbappé shines despite penalty miss in thrilling 2-0 win over Morocco. The World Cup quarter-finals have once again proved a fertile breeding ground for French football greatness, with Didier Deschamps' squad claiming a hard-fought 2-0 victory over an enterprising Morocco side on Thursday.
The usually unflappable Kylian Mbappé showed his mettle in the most dramatic of ways, unleashing a thunderbolt to break the deadlock and set France's hearts racing. Having had a penalty saved earlier, Mbappé made amends with a goal that will be etched in World Cup folklore for years to come. Ousmane Dembélé wrapped up the win six minutes later, but it was Mbappé who stole the show.
Deschamps sprang to his star player's defence, rubbishing claims that Mbappé is a self-absorbed goal-hungry forward with no regard for team harmony. "When it comes to Kylian, there are no issues," Deschamps asserted firmly. "He never thinks twice about himself - and that's precisely what we need from our captain. A lot of people say he's dictatorial, but I think he's exemplary."
For Deschamps, the victory owed as much to his team's cohesion and collective spirit as it did tactical acumen. "We've shown time and again in this tournament that we're more than just a collection of talented individuals - we have something special when it comes to our bond as a team," he said.
In a precautionary measure, Mbappé was withdrawn from the action with an ankle issue towards the end of the match. Midfielder Manu Koné also departed due to cramp and a knee problem but, according to medical reports, neither player is expected to miss the impending semi-final showdown - a boost for Deschamps' team.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi gave France their due respect, stating bluntly that his side had been outplayed by the reigning champions. "It's clear that the quality of football was quite different between the two teams," he acknowledged, with an eye firmly on future World Cup campaigns for his young charges.