Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has singled out Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele as the standout threats after France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Manchester United legend declared that the duo looked dangerous throughout and made the contest look straightforward.
France Cruise Past Morocco
France secured their place in the semifinals with a convincing victory over Morocco on Thursday, July 9. Morocco had been widely regarded as the most difficult remaining obstacle for the French side heading into the quarterfinal, but Les Bleus dominated the match.
In a viral tweet on X, Ferdinand wrote: "Mbappe + Dembele smell blood man!!!! This team is a joke ffs. Wow - this was their hardest test and comfy." The post attracted more than 10,000 likes and nearly 800 retweets, capturing the sentiment of many watching France progress through the tournament with relative ease.
Ferdinand's Praise for the Attacking Duo
Ferdinand's use of "comfy" to describe what was supposed to be France's sternest challenge underscored just how commanding their display appeared to neutral observers. France's captain Mbappe and Dembele, his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, have been at the heart of France's attacking play throughout the tournament. Ferdinand's post suggested their combination is drawing admiration well beyond French supporters, according to Sportskeeda.
CAF Sends Message to Morocco
Following Morocco's elimination, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) sent a message celebrating another historic campaign from the Atlas Lions, despite falling short of their record-breaking semifinal finish in Qatar in 2022. Morocco had been the last African team standing in the tournament.
