France's World Cup semifinal praised for Italian‑based midfield

France advanced to the World Cup semifinal after a 2‑0 win over Morocco, balancing a prolific 16‑goal attack with a solid defence that conceded only two goals in the tournament. Former player Cafù highlighted the team’s tactical maturity, noting that “Mbappé‑Dembélé fanno la differenza, ma vince la maturità della squadra”.

Analysts also pointed to the contribution of three players who ply their trade in Italy: midfielder Manu Koné of Roma, who secured a starting role and was among the best on the field against Morocco; Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot, described as a “box‑to‑box” player essential in both possession and defensive phases; and goalkeeper Mike Maignan of Milan, who kept a clean sheet and saved a penalty, giving the defence added confidence.