France ease past Morocco - is it certain to be Spain in the semis?

Summary of France ease past Morocco - is it certain to be Spain in the semis?

by The Athletic

39m•July 10, 2026
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Overview of France ease past Morocco - is it certain to be Spain in the semis?

This episode of The Totally Football Show breaks down France’s 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco, assesses Kylian Mbappé’s ankle scare, and looks ahead to the other side of the bracket: Spain vs. Belgium. The panel’s main theme is that France now look like the clear tournament favorites, while Spain and Belgium both have reasons to believe they can reach the semifinal in Dallas.

France 2-0 Morocco: Mbappé, Dembele, and a statement win

Match recap

  • France beat Morocco 2-0 to become the first team into the semifinals.
  • Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring after missing a first-half penalty.
  • Ousmane Dembele added the second shortly after, confirming France’s control of the match.

Key takeaways

  • France look increasingly dominant and balanced, with multiple threats in attack.
  • Mbappé’s ability to change a game even when he’s not fully involved was a major talking point.
  • France’s attacking depth was highlighted as a major advantage:
    • Mbappé now matches Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
    • Dembele’s goal gave France another major scorer.
    • The panel noted that France are one of the only teams in recent World Cup history to have two players with at least five goals.

Mbappé injury watch

  • Mbappé was seen with an ice pack on his right ankle after being caught by a challenge.
  • He later downplayed the issue, saying it was just a knock.
  • The tone of the discussion suggested mild concern, but no major alarm.

Morocco’s run ends, but their tournament remains historic

  • Morocco were criticized for a flat performance against France.
  • Their defensive approach limited openings early, but once they pushed forward they left space for France to exploit.
  • Even in defeat, Morocco were praised for:
    • Becoming the first African team to reach consecutive World Cup quarterfinals.
    • Showing more attacking ambition than in past tournaments.
    • Building a strong future with a promising new generation.

Why France look like the team to beat

What has changed

  • The panel contrasted this team with France at Euro 2024, when they relied heavily on own goals and penalties.
  • Now, they look more fluent and more dangerous from open play.
  • Their depth and flexibility make them hard to stop:
    • If opponents focus on Mbappé, Dembele or another attacker can decide the game.
    • France also appear more secure defensively than in previous tournaments.

Tactical questions

  • France were described as looking nearly unstoppable unless an opponent can:
    • Clog central spaces and disrupt rhythm, or
    • Control possession and keep France’s attackers isolated.
  • Spain were identified as one of the few teams with the style to potentially do that.

Spain vs Belgium preview: confidence, injuries, and tactical intrigue

Spain’s situation

  • Spain are still unbeaten and yet to concede a goal.
  • However, the panel agreed they still haven’t produced a truly complete performance.
  • Concerns were raised about fitness and form:
    • Lamine Yamal has been managing an injury.
    • Nico Williams is not fully fit, though available.
    • Rodri and Mikel Merino are important but not at their absolute peak.
    • Pedri is still settling into his role.

Belgium’s momentum

  • Belgium’s confidence has surged after:
    • Their dramatic comeback win over Senegal.
    • Their impressive victory over the United States.
  • The show emphasized that Belgium’s coach has been willing to make bold calls, including unexpected substitutions and lineup changes.
  • Belgium were portrayed as:
    • More direct than many expected.
    • Dangerous from crosses.
    • Stronger in transitions than Spain might prefer.

Players to watch

  • Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard, Dodi Lukebakio, Charles De Ketelaere.
  • Spain: Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Rodri, Pedri, Mikel Merino.

Outlook

  • Spain were still seen as favorites, but Belgium were given a credible upset case.
  • The main worry for Spain was overconfidence and a lack of sharpness if Belgium can keep the game open.

Other notable discussion points

England briefly come up

  • There was a short digression on England’s defensive issues ahead of their next match.
  • The panel questioned whether their back line is strong enough against elite opposition.
  • Injuries/suspensions were flagged as potential problems.

Lighthearted show banter

  • The episode included travel and cultural talk from the hosts in Seattle, LA, Malibu, and at a Dodgers game.
  • There were recurring jokes about:
    • Fan culture in the U.S.
    • A website where people were “apologizing” to Belgium’s coach after the Senegal comeback.
    • The strange chemistry of live tournament coverage.

Bottom line

  • France looked like the most complete team in the tournament after defeating Morocco.
  • Mbappé remains the central figure, though his ankle will be monitored.
  • Spain vs Belgium was framed as a fascinating contrast: Spain’s control and technical quality versus Belgium’s growing momentum and tactical unpredictability.
  • The panel’s overall view: France are the team to beat, but the path to the final still has real uncertainty.