France midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, claimed Les Bleus had “little to fear” from Morocco after their 2-0 FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final victory, saying the Atlas Lions rarely looked dangerous even when they controlled possession during Thursday’s clash in Boston.
The French midfielder, however, acknowledged Morocco’s attacking quality, warning that the North Africans still possess players capable of changing a game in an instant.
Morocco managed just five shots throughout the contest, with only one on target, while France registered 22 attempts, including eight on goal.
“We felt that in the moments when we didn’t have the ball and we let them have it, they weren’t very dangerous. We had little to fear from this team. That’s the feeling we had on the pitch. It’s surprising. But they remain a team that can make the difference at any moment because they have extraordinary individual players. That’s why we always have to stay vigilant,” L’Equipe quoted him as saying while speaking to beIN Sports.
Rabiot also praised France’s focus, resilience and unity after the victory, saying the team remained composed despite Kylian Mbappe missing a first-half penalty.
The midfielder described France’s qualification for a third consecutive World Cup semi-final as a remarkable achievement, crediting the squad’s strong bond and determination.
“We were very focused. And then, with the ball, we used it well. Even though we started badly with Bounou’s penalty save. But we stayed in it. That’s also where you see the team’s strength because we show determination and resilience too. We’re not taking it for granted at all in the locker room (the third consecutive World Cup semi-final). I can tell you we were very happy. There’s a lot of joy because we’ve been giving everything for several weeks. The group is exceptional. Everyone is united, and it’s magnificent,” Rabiot said.
France, who lifted the World Cup in 2018 before finishing runners-up to Argentina in 2022, have now reached the semi-finals for the third successive edition as they continue their quest for another title.
Morocco made a confident start and matched France’s intensity in the opening stages, with Brahim Diaz and Achraf Hakimi providing attacking outlets on the counter.
However, the Atlas Lions struggled to create clear-cut chances against a disciplined French defence.
France gradually assumed control and produced the better opportunities before the break. Mbappe came close to opening the scoring and also saw his penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, leaving the match goalless at half-time.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 60th minute when Desire Doue picked out Mbappe, who curled a superb finish beyond Bounou from inside the penalty area.
It was the France captain’s eighth goal of the tournament, drawing him level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
France doubled their advantage six minutes later as Ousmane Dembele struck from outside the box. Although Bounou got a hand to the effort, he could not keep the ball out, with the goal marking Dembele’s fifth of the tournament.
Morocco continued to push until the final whistle, but France’s experience and composure ensured they saw out the victory comfortably to book their place in the last four.
The result ended another historic World Cup campaign for Morocco, while Didier Deschamps’ men moved a step closer to another global title and will now face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals.
