Half-time at the Boston Stadium: France 0–0 Morocco.
France have had everything — corners, a penalty, a crossbar, sustained periods of suffocating possession. Morocco have had almost nothing going forward. And yet it is 0-0. Yassine Bounou is the reason this quarter-final remains alive for Morocco.
Watch the second half of France vs Morocco live on ZEE 5 FIFA Subscription — streaming now in India.
5th Minute — France Make Their Intentions Clear
France started the match exactly as their pre-game build-up suggested they would — aggressive, high-tempo, attacking corners and set pieces with real intent. Dayot Upamecano was the first to threaten, meeting a sharp corner with a firm header. It lacked placement. Bounou gathered comfortably. The warning, though, had been delivered.
26th–28th Minute — Bounou Saves a Penalty
The first half’s defining moment came in the 26th minute. Noussair Mazraoui was adjudged to have brought down Kylian Mbappé inside the box. VAR reviewed it. The wait was long, the tension inside Gillette Stadium palpable. Penalty confirmed.
Mbappé stepped up. Stutter run-up, shot to the right. Bounou had read it perfectly — a full-stretch dive to his left, the ball pushed away. Gillette Stadium held its breath and then erupted. One of the most important saves of this entire tournament. Morocco were still level.
35th Minute — Bounou Again
France did not stop. They never do. Désiré Doué, sharp and direct throughout the first half, drove low towards the bottom corner in the 35th minute — the kind of effort that finds the net more often than not. Bounou got down quickly and blocked it. Two big saves. Morocco still standing.
45+2 Minute — The Crossbar
The closest France came to breaking the deadlock had nothing to do with their forwards. Lucas Digne, arriving late from left-back, unleashed a long-range thunderbolt that cleared Morocco’s defensive block entirely, beat Bounou in the air — and cannoned off the crossbar. The noise inside the Boston Stadium said everything. France are doing everything except scoring.
45+4 Minute — Morocco’s Only Moment
Morocco’s solitary attempt at attacking menace came in the fourth minute of added time. Achraf Hakimi stepped over a free kick from 29 yards and drove it goalwards. It went wide. Morocco have not registered a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes. Their job tonight — at least for now — has been to survive. They are doing it.
The Half-Time Picture
France have had the better of everything: possession, territory, chances, a penalty. Morocco have been compact and disciplined, backed by Bounou’s performance of a lifetime. The crossbar, a saved penalty, a blocked shot from Doué — France could easily have been 2-0 or 3-0 up. They are level instead.
The second half will test whether Morocco can hold this for another 45 minutes, or whether France eventually find the way through. Morocco will be hoping Bounou has a few more miracles left.
The second half is underway on ZEE 5. Don’t miss it — stream France vs Morocco live in India on ZEE 5.
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