France's second‑half surge locks World Cup semi‑final place

France secured a World Cup semi‑final place on Wednesday the 9th by beating Morocco 2‑0, with Kylian Mbappé opening the scoring early in the second half after a missed penalty and Ousmane Dembélé adding the second to seal the win for the French side. Mbappé earned a penalty after being fouled by Achraf Mazraoui inside the box, but his spot‑kick was saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bono. The French No.10 took the penalty himself, striking it poorly, and Bono denied the chance. Six minutes after the opening goal, Dembélé struck from outside the box to double France's lead. His finish left little chance for a Moroccan comeback.

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Bono was among the standout performers, making several excellent saves in addition to the penalty stop. French goalkeeper Hugo Maignan made his first save in the 37th minute of the second half, keeping his side's net secure. Defender Pape Diop was in front of Mbappé when the striker found space to shoot from the edge of the box, beating Bono's corner. The African side remained shy, offering little threat to Maignan's goal despite pushing forward after falling behind.

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The match report was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence, ensuring broader accessibility. The article highlights the French dominance and the Moroccan team's limited chances. Overall, France's second‑half surge locked their place in the semi‑finals, while Morocco's efforts fell short despite moments of promise.