France cruise into semi-finals – could this be the best Les Bleus ever?

France delivered a statement performance on Thursday, powering past Morocco 2-0 in their quarter-final to become the first team to book a spot in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup. The result reinforced what many already believe: that Didier Deschamps' side is the one to beat. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the second half – having seen a first-half penalty saved – and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele doubled the lead six minutes later. Those strikes took France's tournament tally to 16 goals, more than any other side, and showcased an attack that has been virtually unplayable. Mbappe's goal was his eighth of the competition, drawing him level with Argentina's Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. He now leads on assists. Dembele, meanwhile, bagged his fifth – making France only the second team in the last 50 years to have two players with five or more goals at a single World Cup, following Brazil in 2002. Former France midfielder Patrick Vieira, part of the 1998 title-winning squad, spoke about the depth of talent in the current group. "We're talking about a generation of players," he told ITV Sport. "When you look at the squad and the attacking players, it is maybe one of the best – it is so unbelievable." Pat Nevin, the former Scotland forward, called France "the best, most skilful, most dangerous attacking team in the tournament," highlighting that they have multiple threats rather than relying on a single star. Deschamps, who has already confirmed this will be his last tournament as manager after 14 years in charge, has led France to a World Cup win in 2018 and a final in 2022. Now they are two wins away from adding another trophy. The potential semi-final opponent could be Spain, who face Belgium in their quarter-final on Friday. Vieira believes France would have no trouble. "I don't see anybody stopping the French team going to the final," he said. With Mbappe, Dembele, Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, Paris St-Germain duo Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue, Manchester City's Rayan Cherki, and Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta all in the squad, the attacking options are frightening. Ian Wright, the former England striker, remarked before the Morocco game that France looked like "one of the most clear favourites for a World Cup tournament I have ever seen." After the dominant display in Boston, where France had 22 attempts and Morocco managed just five, Wright added: "It is difficult to see the weakness. France look imperious."