After the French team’s qualification against Morocco in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Adrien Rabiot reflected on the control displayed by Les Bleus. In an interview with beIN Sports, the French midfielder stated that the Tricolores quickly sensed they could manage the Atlas Lions, especially when the latter had possession of the ball.
“We felt in the moments when we didn’t have the ball, when we let them have it, that they weren’t dangerous, that we didn’t have to fear this team. That’s the feeling we had on the pitch,” Adrien Rabiot said after the match. This straightforward analysis reflects the confidence felt by the French players throughout the game, despite some Moroccan possession sequences.
However, the French midfielder did not completely downplay the quality of the opponent. He reminded that Morocco has players capable of turning a match with an individual action. “They remain a team that can make a difference at times because they have extraordinary individuals. We were very serious. We used the ball well,” he continued, emphasizing the defensive seriousness and collective management of Les Bleus.
Rabiot also commented on the French reaction after Kylian Mbappé’s missed penalty, saved by Yassine Bounou. Far from being frustrated, the French team managed to stay focused before making the difference in the second half. “We stayed in the game after the penalty. We see the strength of the team. We showed resilience and determination,” added the French player.
With this victory, France will play in a third consecutive World Cup semi-final, an achievement that Rabiot refuses to trivialize. “We don’t trivialize it at all. In the locker room, we were very happy. The group is exceptional. This will be my second World Cup. Very few generations in the French team have experienced this. It’s exceptional,” he concluded.
For Morocco, these statements are likely to provoke a reaction, as the Atlas Lions long resisted thanks to Yassine Bounou before conceding in the second half. But they also confirm the impression left by this match: a French team that is more realistic, more confident in its strength, and capable of controlling the important moments of the game.
