Read 4 minutes11 July 2026 06:00 AM IST
France’s match against Morocco was considered a quarter-final match. Against Morocco’s unrelenting stamina, the French put together a trove of attacking talent. Instead, Boston saw another French canter to the finish line, in the World Cup final. That’s the story of this World Cup – different teams trying their own spin on solving the French puzzle – each failing to varying degrees.
Sneak peek of the Senegal show
The French team has faced Senegal in the first half of the tournament so far. The defending African Cup of Nations champions were incredibly organized and eager to physically impose themselves on the French front four. They didn’t hand Didier Deschamps’ men the battle for possession and were competing at a level. But that all changed when Michael Ollis moved into the middle of the pitch from the right wing and a devastating two-way combination between him and Mbappe – which has defined the tournament in its final term – took over in the second half. The combined distance of 120km covered by the French that day was the longest they have covered at this World Cup: a testament to how Senegal made the champion contenders sweat.
Sweden is easy to crush
Perhaps the easiest game the French have had at this World Cup was the Swedes, who were rattled by the devastating nature of France’s attack. A number that defines their lack of any game plan to counter the French top 4 – 202 ball receptions in the final third of the Swedish half. Sweden gave up possession of the ball; When they reached their quarter of the pitch, they gave up defending. And eventually they gave up three unanswered goals.
Materiality of Paraguay
Paraguay only managed 22% possession. They didn’t have a single shot on target and conceded under 200 passes in 90 minutes of football. But they are a team that the French really struggled to score against and failed to score open-play goals against. Mostly it was in midfield and hard lines of defense that did not allow the French midfield to operate in their preferred depth. They were the first team in this World Cup to lock down a hostage and deny him room to roam. What Paraguay did to add to their block was to rough up the French. In true South American fashion, they held Mbappe and Olis hostage, constantly committing small fouls and never allowing their attack to gain momentum. Playing to a draw was never an option, and so the South Americans tried their best to take the game into extra-time, managing just five shots on target against them and finally breaking their back. A tough watch, but possibly the best response to the French attacking quartet.
Moroccan runners
The match was set to be a quarter-final clash due to Morocco’s industrious runs. Instead, the French never had to worry. The Moroccans had to make important changes in their personnel, which did not force them to play at their optimum. They missed out on a real offensive threat and Brahim Diaz alone wasn’t enough to ask questions of the French. Even with those limitations, the Moroccans made more passes than the French and kept the ball more than their opponents. They had set up their midfield block to play perfectly behind Olis, but after Mbappe created a goal out of thin air, the wind was knocked out of their sails. The discipline they showed in keeping Olisse down waned and the French quickly found their second through Ousmane Dembele. Offensively, Morocco had nothing going for them, managing only one shot on target. In the end, it came down to what might have been a much closer tie.