France midfielder Adrien Rabiot took a swipe at Morocco after Les Bleus’ FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final victory, saying the team “had little to fear” from the opposition, who struggled to pose a threat in possession during the 2-0 win in Boston on Thursday.
Morocco managed just five shots compared to France’s 22, with only one effort on target, while Les Bleus registered eight shots on goal.
After the win, Rabiot said France were not overly threatened when Morocco had possession, but acknowledged that their talented players could still change the game at any moment, requiring constant focus.
“We felt that in the moments when we didn’t have the ball and we let them have it, they weren’t very dangerous,” Rabiot was quoted by L’Equipe (via Asia Net News).
“We had little to fear from this team. That’s the feeling we had on the pitch. It’s surprising. But they remain a team that can make the difference at any moment because they have extraordinary individual players. That’s why we always have to stay vigilant.”
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Rabiot praised France’s focus, resilience and unity after the win, highlighting the team’s ability to stay composed despite missing a penalty in the first-half.
He said reaching a third consecutive World Cup semi-final is a special achievement and credited the squad’s strong togetherness.
Notably, France won the 2018 World Cup, finished runners-up after losing to Argentina in the 2022 final, and have now reached another semi-final in the 2026 edition.
“We were very focused. And then, with the ball, we used it well. Even though we started badly with Bounou’s penalty save. But we stayed in it. That’s also where you see the team’s strength because we show determination and resilience too.
“We’re not taking it for granted at all in the locker room (the third consecutive World Cup semi-final). I can tell you we were very happy. There’s a lot of joy because we’ve been giving everything for several weeks. The group is exceptional. Everyone is united, and it’s magnificent,” Rabiot said.
