World Cup Nights: Mbappe and Dembele down Morocco, France reach the semifinals. Tonight it is Spain-Belgium

The first quarterfinal rewards the favourites. In Boston, France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the semifinals for the third time running: a Mbappe masterpiece on 60 minutes and a Dembele strike settled it, after Bounou had saved a first-half penalty from Mbappe himself. Off the pitch, the Golden Boot race caught fire. And tonight, in Los Angeles, the Spain-Belgium heavyweight tie decides who meets Les Bleus.

At the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, just outside Boston, the 2022 semifinal got its rematch — and the script barely changed: France 2-0 Morocco, just like three and a half years ago. Under a scorching sun (almost 32C at kickoff, more than 64,000 in the stands), Les Bleus dominated the first hour without reward: on 25 minutes Kylian Mbappe won a penalty, but after a long VAR review he was denied by Yassine Bounou, who stretched low to push the weak effort away. Half-time arrived goalless, with Morocco yet to seriously threaten. After the break, though, the superstar delivered: on 60 minutes Mbappe curled in an unstoppable strike for his eighth goal of the tournament, then on 66 he teed up Ousmane Dembele to kill the tie. The only worry was Mbappe's 77th-minute exit, limping slightly with an ice pack on his right ankle — a small alarm ahead of the semifinal. Mohamed Ouahbi's Morocco, who had knocked out the Netherlands and Canada, bow out at the quarterfinals.

The night leaves two talking points. The first is the Golden Boot race, tighter than ever: with a goal and an assist, Mbappe reclaimed top spot on eight, ahead of Lionel Messi (also on eight but behind on assists), a flying Erling Haaland on seven and Harry Kane on six. For the Frenchman, the goal against Morocco also brought two records: his 12th in a World Cup knockout stage — an all-time record — and his 20th at World Cups overall. The second theme is the still-fraught relationship between teams and referees: after Egypt's formal complaint, European politics has now weighed in, with a group of MEPs calling for an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the handling of Folarin Balogun's suspension. Even away from the grass, this tournament never rests.

But the ball, rightly, is straight back in the spotlight. Tonight at 21:00 Italian time, at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, comes the most anticipated quarterfinal: Spain-Belgium. Luis de la Fuente's La Roja are the only side yet to concede at this World Cup — six straight World Cup clean sheets, an all-time record — and arrive unbeaten in 36 competitive games; up front there is the flair of Lamine Yamal, behind him the assurance of Unai Simon. Rudi Garcia's Belgium cling to the return of Kevin De Bruyne, rested in the last 16, but lose Amadou Onana (cruciate) for the rest of the tournament. The Red Devils thrashed the United States 4-1 and dream of repeating their 1986 heroics. The winner joins France in the semifinal, in Dallas on Tuesday the 14th.

The weekend, then, is a nerve-shredder. On Saturday at 23:00 Italian time, in Miami, Norway-England pits two Golden Boot contenders against each other: Erling Haaland, fresh from a brace against Brazil, versus Harry Kane, the man who dragged the Three Lions past Mexico 3-2. In the small hours between Saturday and Sunday (03:00 Italian time, Kansas City), it is the turn of world champions Argentina, who after two heart-stopping 3-2 wins over Cape Verde and Egypt face the fairytale of Switzerland — into their first quarterfinal since 1954 and fresh from the first penalty-shootout win in their World Cup history, against Colombia. Messi against the Swiss dream: another one not to miss.

On we go, one night at a time. Tonight the football is back with Spain-Belgium: see you tomorrow at dawn.

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