France became the first nation into the 2026 World Cup semi-finals after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Morocco in Boston on Thursday. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in a six-minute second-half spell extended France's tournament tally to 16 goals, the most of any side. Mbappe's eighth goal moved him level with Lionel Messi atop the scoring charts, while Dembele's fifth made France only the second team in 50 years — after Brazil in 2002 — to have two players score five or more at the same World Cup.

The attacking depth is staggering. Beyond Mbappe and Dembele, Didier Deschamps can call on Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Jean-Philippe Mateta. Former England striker Ian Wright called them "one of the most clear favourites for a World Cup tournament I have ever seen" after France registered 22 attempts to Morocco's five. Defensively, Les Bleus have conceded just twice in six matches.

France will face Spain in Dallas on Tuesday if La Roja overcome Belgium on Friday. Deschamps, in his final tournament after 14 years in charge, has already won the 2018 World Cup and reached the 2022 final. Patrick Vieira believes this squad may be the greatest France team ever assembled, surpassing the 1998 and 2018 winners.

Two wins separate France from a historic third world title. The only genuine threat appears to be complacency — Pat Nevin noted occasional lapses when cruising — but with a defense that barely bends and an attack that scores at will, the burden falls on opponents to strike first. Anything less and France will pick them apart.