BOSTON — For a few moments early on Thursday, Moroccan fans started to believe. They watched star goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stop a Kylian Mbappe penalty, and make another top-notch save and the thinking was that maybe, just maybe, Bounou’s heroics could help pull off a shocker in the World Cup quarterfinals.Instead of screaming “Bo-No”, Moroccan fans were left screaming “Oh No” as France’s undeniable attack eventually broke through and show why they are considered the favorites to lift the World Cup on July 19th.Mbappe made up for his penalty miss with a delicious curling shot from distance that even the heroic Bounou was powerless to stop. Reigning Ballon D’Or winner Ousmane Dembele followed up just six minutes later with a dazzling solo effort to seal the 2-0 victory that sends the French to the World Cup semifinals for the third straight tournament.France will now face the winner of the Spain-Belgium quarterfinal on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. Spain face Belgium on Friday in Los Angeles.Morocco entered the match at a disadvantage, with star striker Ismael Saibari sidelined with a hamstring injury, but it was the vulnerability of Morocco’s defense against France’s multi-faceted attack that was the greater concern and that fear became reality as the French created chance after chance throughout the match.Les Bleus peppered Bounou’s goal with eight shots on goal, and 22 shots in total, and while the North Africans were able to keep its defense together through a goal-less first half, Mbappe eventually found the break through in the 60th minute when he curled a shot around a Moroccan defender and just inside the far post, past a diving Bounou.Mbappe had a hand in France’s second goal too, laying the ball off to Dembele as the pair ran right at Morocco’s defense. Mbappe’s run cleared put the Moroccan defense on hits heels, giving Dembele enough space to capitalize, sending a right-footed shot past Bounou from the top of the box.Morocco’s attack struggled without the dynamic Saibari leading the line, and managed just a single shot on goal, and just five shots total, leaving France goalkeeper Mike Maignan untested.It was a disappointing end to an otherwise promising tournament for Morocco, and while the Atlas Lions didn’t get as far at this World Cup as they did in the 2022 edition, when they became the first African team to reach the semifinals, but the argument can be made that Morocco played better soccer in this summer’s tournament, as shown against opponents like Brazil and the Netherlands. The emergence of young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi and the outstanding form of Saibari are just some of the bright spots for a nation that will be co-hosting the next World Cup in 2030.As for France, a tougher test is likely to await on Tuesday, with Spain the heavy favorites against Belgium. The reigning Euro champions have yet to allow a goal at this World Cup, and if they can avoid an upset against the Belgians, it will set up a tasty semifinal against the same France side they beat in the Euro 2024 semifinals.