France's dominant march raises the case for their greatest ever team

France’s 2-0 win over Morocco has taken them into the World Cup semi-finals and strengthened the argument that this may be the best Les Bleus side ever. With Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in top form, and Didier Deschamps guiding them through his final tournament, France now look like the team to beat.

Their performance in Boston was emphatic. Mbappe scored after having a first-half penalty saved, Dembele added a second soon after, and France controlled the game so comfortably that Morocco managed only five attempts and one shot on target. It was another reminder of how complete this team looks at both ends of the pitch.

What makes France so impressive is not just their star power, but their depth. Alongside Mbappe and Dembele, they have Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Jean-Philippe Mateta all offering different ways to hurt opponents. That gives them options few other teams can match.

The numbers are striking too. France have scored 16 goals at the tournament, more than anyone else so far, and only conceded two in six matches. Mbappe now has eight goals and is level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race, while Dembele has five of his own. That makes France only the second team in the last 50 years to have two players reach five goals at a single World Cup, after Brazil in 2002.

There is also a growing feeling that this team has the balance needed to go all the way. They can dominate games, break teams open with pace and skill, and still stay compact enough to frustrate opponents when required. That mix has led Patrick Vieira, who played in France’s 1998 triumph, to suggest they are on the verge of greatness.

Deschamps’ legacy is already secure after winning the 2018 World Cup and reaching the 2022 final, but a third title would place this squad in the very highest tier of French teams. The question now is whether they can finish the job and justify the praise.

Spain could still meet France in the semi-finals if they beat Belgium, and that would be a major test. But for now, France look formidable. As things stand, the only team that may be able to stop them is France themselves if they fail to maintain their level.