Mbappé magic fuels France, Morocco roar for redemption as Boston ready for World Cup fireworks

LOS ANGELES, July 9 — France begin their final push for a third World Cup crown on Thursday when they take on Morocco in a blockbuster showdown to kick off a star-studded quarter-final line-up.

After a month of scintillating action that has dispelled anxieties over sky-high ticket prices and geopolitics, the biggest, boldest and most logistically complex World Cup ever staged has been whittled down to eight teams.

France have emerged as the outstanding side after a series of dazzling attacking displays in the United States, where all the remaining matches will be played.

But they face their toughest test so far against African champions Morocco at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston.

Les Bleus have surged into the last eight in style, scoring 14 goals in five games — seven of them from prolific captain Kylian Mbappe — one of four star forwards battling for the Golden Boot.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi tops the scoring chart with eight, Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland have seven each and England’s Harry Kane has six.

Thursday’s opening quarter-final is a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar, won by France, who went on to lose an all-time classic final against Argentina on penalties.

Impressive Morocco eased through the group phase before battling past the Netherlands in the last 32 and swatting aside co-hosts Canada.

The Atlas Lions boast a potent mix of technical quality, physicality and tactical nous under the guidance of coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who masterminded Morocco’s shock victory in the under-20 World Cup last year.

France coach Didier Deschamps told reporters on Wednesday — a World Cup rest day — that Morocco were a “top-tier side”.

“We faced them four years ago in the semi-finals, and they’ve played in an Africa Cup of Nations final,” he said.

“They are a very, very good team with excellent players — they aren’t here by accident. It’s going to be a clash between two teams that like to have possession, attack, and score goals.”

Deschamps, stepping down after the tournament after 14 years in charge, said he was unconcerned by the appointment of Argentine officials to oversee the match, with a repeat of the 2022 final still possible.

The winner will advance to a semi-final against the victor of Friday’s tie in Los Angeles between European champions Spain and Belgium.

The clinical Spaniards, who have not conceded a single goal so far, eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the last 16 and will fancy their chances of overcoming Belgium, who dismantled the United States 4-1 in the last 16.

Houdini act

On the other side of the draw, holders Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after staggering into the quarter-finals.

The South Americans, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962, were given an almighty scare by Cape Verde in the last 32.

On Tuesday, Messi inspired an incredible Houdini act in a jaw-dropping 3-2 defeat of Egypt in Atlanta, when the reigning champions were seemingly down and out, trailing by two goals late in the game.

Messi, who missed a penalty in the first half, said: “We didn’t want today to be the end, we didn’t want to go home.”

The winner of the Argentina-Switzerland clash will face either Norway or England, who clash in Miami on Saturday.

England advanced with a pulsating 3-2 defeat of co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca that has given the Three Lions renewed belief in their bid to win a first major title since 1966.

Blocking England’s path is a formidable Norway side spearheaded by the irrepressible Haaland, who scored both goals in Sunday’s last-16 win over Brazil.

Off the field, the Egyptian football federation said it had asked for the officiating team that handled the Pharaohs’ defeat to Argentina to be thrown out of the World Cup.

The federation filed a complaint to Fifa pointing out “serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match”.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic announced his resignation after nine years in charge, which included a run to the final in 2018. — AFP