Rio Ferdinand hails Mbappe and Dembele as France defeats Morocco 2-0 to reach World Cup semi-finals
France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarter-final on July 10, advancing to face the winner of Spain versus Belgium in the semi-finals. Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scored the goals that secured victory for the 2018 champions. Former England defender Rio Ferdinand praised both players on social media, calling their performance exceptional and stating this was France's toughest test yet. The North African side was eliminated as the last African team remaining in the 2026 tournament. Ferdinand's tweet expressed confidence in France's momentum heading into the next round, noting their composure against quality opposition. The semi-final matchup will be confirmed after Spain and Belgium conclude their quarter-final clash, with France waiting to see which European opponent they face next.