Despite Yassine Bounou’s brilliance, Morocco’s World Cup dream evaporates in the face of France’s terrifying attack

The Moroccan national team exited the World Cup in the quarter-finals after losing 0-2 to France at Gillette Stadium in Boston, in a match during which goalkeeper Yassine Bounou excelled.

France imposed its advantage during the first half, but it clashed with the brilliance of the Moroccan goalkeeper, who saved his goal from several chances.

Bono began his presence early by deflecting a shot from Kylian Mbappe into a corner kick, before blocking a dangerous attempt from Ousmane Dembélé.

The most notable moment of the first half came in the 33rd minute, when Argentine referee Facundo Tio awarded a penalty kick to France after Nassair Mazraoui obstructed Mbappe, but Bono succeeded in blocking the shot to maintain the tie.

The Moroccan goalkeeper continued his brilliance minutes later by blocking a header from Desiree Douai, while the crossbar saved his goal in the 45th minute after blocking a powerful shot from left back Lucas Digne, ending the first half without goals.

The Moroccan team started the second half in a bolder manner after relatively abandoning its defensive reserve, and created its first opportunity through Brahim Diaz, but his shot collided with the French defence.

However, “Bono” continued to postpone the French goal after blocking a new attempt from Doi, and although the ball slipped out of his hands for a moment, he quickly returned to control it.

But the French pressure finally bore fruit, when Mbappe succeeded in ending the steadfastness of the Moroccan defense, after he penetrated into the penalty area and shot a ball that Bono was unable to handle, amid protests from the Moroccan players who demanded that France be awarded a foul at the beginning of the attack, but the referee awarded the goal (60).

Moroccan coach Mohamed Wehbe tried to return to the match by making two substitutions at once, and bringing in Sofiane Rahimi and Sofiane Amrabat, but France continued to impose its advantage, and Ousmane Dembélé succeeded in adding the second goal after he penetrated the middle of the defense and shot a ball that the Moroccan goalkeeper failed to clear, bringing the “Roosters” closer to concluding the confrontation (66).

Morocco responded with two successive attempts in search of reducing the gap, as Azzedine Ounahi fired a shot from outside the penalty area, but the French goalkeeper deflected it into a corner kick, before Chamseddine Talbi headed a cross over, but the ball passed along the post and touched the net from the outside.