France enters the quarter‑final against Morocco on a five‑game winning streak

On 9 July 2026, France, fresh from a 1‑0 win over Paraguay on 4 July, are set to face Morocco at Gillette Stadium. Despite the absence of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Hugo Ekitiké, Didier Deschamps' side keeps its momentum, boasting a recent record of 5 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses.

Why does Arsène Wenger bet on France's speed?

In the Kroos brothers' podcast, the legendary coach said France will win the World Cup thanks to its blistering pace. “The train is moving fast, you have to get on board,” he claimed, emphasizing that the French tempo outstrips that of their European rivals, except perhaps Spain, in his view.

What weaknesses will Morocco try to exploit?

The Atlas Lions, hungry for revenge after the 2022 loss, rely on a solid defence and swift transitions. Their manager highlighted the need to contain Kylian Mbappé’s counter‑attacks, whose speed could unsettle the Moroccan goalkeeper. Morocco also has a midfield capable of cutting off long passes, potentially limiting the space French wingers enjoy.

What can we expect from the match and what are the keys to success?

If France maintains its current form, it must manage the loss of Tchouaméni, a midfield lynchpin. Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud will be tasked with creating chances and feeding Mbappé. Conversely, Morocco must stay compact and capitalize on set‑pieces, an area where France showed vulnerability in the group stage. Wenger’s outlook stays optimistic, yet the duel promises to be tight, with every mistake likely to be costly.