Les Bleus Overcome Morocco Tactical Setup to Reach Semis
Before the World Cup quarter-final clash, former international Mustapha El Haddaoui confidently declared Yassine Bounou unbeatable. For the opening 45 minutes, the 35-year-old shot-stopper looked entirely impervious, frustrating the French frontline with superb reflexes and composed distribution.
Bounou, the hero of Morocco's penalty shootout triumph over the Netherlands, initially asserted dominance by saving a 28th-minute penalty from Kylian Mbappe. He also produced crucial early saves to deny Dayot Upamecano and Desire Doue, preserving a tense goalless deadlock.
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The tactical setup of Didier Deschamps eventually cracked the low block in the 60th minute when Desire Doue assisted Kylian Mbappe for a brilliant curling strike. Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembele doubled the French advantage with a shot that squeezed past Bounou.
While Bounou added late saves against Bradley Barcola and Jean-Philippe Mateta, Morocco lacked the attacking weapons to mount a comeback. The defeat marks a historic turning point, raising questions about whether the legendary keeper will retire before the 2027 AFCON.