Mbappe and Dembele too much for Morocco as Atlas Lions bow out of World Cup

RIYADH: Alas, it was not to be for the Atlas Lions. A repeat of their heroic semi-final appearance in 2022 will not come to pass, having fallen at the same hurdle — and to the same opponents — as last time out: France.

There is no shame in losing to arguably the most dominant team in the tournament. Goals were always going to come, as France have shown in all their previous encounters. Even a penalty save from Bounou was not enough to keep Morocco in it, as France broke the deadlock in quick succession in the 60th and 66th minutes to put the game beyond doubt.

Limiting the damage against France has proven difficult for every team at the tournament. Keeping up with them means you need to score goals, and with Morocco already struggling to find the net with Ismael Saibari in the side, there was a worry they would come up short in his absence after he pulled his hamstring against Canada in the Round of 16.

Both Chadi Riad and Saibari were unfit coming into this game, which meant the Atlas Lions lined up with a different shape. Noureddine Mazraoui moved into the heart of defense while Anass Salaheddine started at left-back. In attack, Brahim Diaz operated as a false nine with the trio of Bilal El-Khannouss, Azzedine Ounahi and Chemsdine Talbi operating behind.

Eighteen-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi also started in midfield — a prominent occasion for the youngster, who had rejected the opportunity to represent France in favor of Morocco prior to the tournament.

It was Talbi who set the tempo early, showing some deft skill to break past the French midfield. But moments later, Kylian Mbappe got onto the ball and drove a strike toward Bounou from outside the area, only for the goalkeeper to parry it away for a corner.

That