Mbappé praises Morocco ahead of the quarter-final summit.

French national team captain Kylian Mbappé confirmed that his team is ready for a strong match against the Moroccan national team in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, noting that the "Roosters" have proven their ability to handle various match conditions after overcoming Paraguay with a score of one goal to none.

Mbappé, who secured France's qualification by scoring the winning goal from a penalty, stated in media remarks after the match that his team was aware of the nature of the encounter from the beginning, explaining: "We knew the match would be difficult, and we succeeded in delivering a good performance that showcased our character and ability to engage in tough matches, not just to play attacking football."

The French captain added that some believe France relies solely on beautiful play, but the team possesses a winning mentality regardless of the match conditions, emphasizing that every team has its own style, and what matters most in the end is achieving victory.

Mbappé spoke about the upcoming match against the Moroccan national team, praising what the "Atlas Lions" have shown during the tournament, saying: "Morocco is a strong team and deserves all the respect. We are happy to play this match, and we will give our utmost to continue our journey in the World Cup."

He added that the French national team's focus is now entirely on preparing for this encounter, pointing out the importance of the players regaining their fitness before the anticipated match.

In conclusion, Mbappé revealed that his former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, Achraf Hakimi, contacted him after the match, smiling as he said: "I think Achraf did send me a message, but right now our full focus is on the quarter-final match."

The Moroccan and French teams are scheduled to meet in an anticipated match in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup next Thursday, starting at nine in the evening local time.