The dream of the Moroccan national team to reach the semi-final round of the 2026 World Cup evaporated, similar to the last Qatar World Cup, following the loss to France by two goals to nil.
Kylian Mbappé's teammates qualified for the semi-final round after overcoming the Atlas Lions obstacle with two clean goals, amid a disappointing Moroccan performance that lacked excitement and offensive solutions.
The match witnessed a collective decline among Morocco's stars, as coach Mohamed Wahbi was forced to substitute Ibrahim Diaz, Bilal El Khannous, and Ayoub Bouaddi.
The Moroccan team showed no real threat to break down the tightly organized French defense throughout both halves of the match.
Shock over Achraf Hakimi's level
Captain Achraf Hakimi was the most prominent symbol of disappointment, as he failed to deliver his usual offensive duties and became mired in defensive errors against Désiré Doué.
Moreover, Hakimi conceded a penalty against Morocco and lost the ball 15 times, amid harsh press ratings as low as 3.5 out of 10.
The frustration did not stop there; Hakimi also faced sharp public criticism after the match for being spotted smiling and laughing with his Paris Saint-Germain teammates despite the bitter elimination from the World Cup.
Wahbi analyzes... and Mbappé delivers a message
In his comment on the defeat, coach Mohamed Wahbi acknowledged the loss, saying: "France caused us impactful problems on the flanks, and we lacked the vitality and ideas to stretch their defense."
Meanwhile, French star Kylian Mbappé summarized the details of facing his club teammates at Paris Saint-Germain with a remark directed at his friend Hakimi after the final whistle: "Here, there are no emotions."
