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KYLIAN SOFTLY …

Marchons, marchons. Fans of France’s remaining rivals at the Geopolitics World Cup – and lovers of business-end big tournament jeopardy – were left sorely disappointed as the favourites steamrolled over Morocco. Didier Deschamps’ cohort of strutting roosters had their feathers ruffled by Paraguay’s spectacular heel turn in the last 16, but were largely back in cruise control for their 2-0 quarter-final victory in (a venue near) Boston on Thursday.

Truly, this was no close shave at [Gillette] Stadium, despite Kylian Mbappé’s first-half penalty being saved. He won the spot-kick himself, nicking the ball past Noussair Mazraoui and embracing the inevitable contact – not so much having the hasty full-back’s number as presenting him with an itemised data dump. Mbappé couldn’t cash in, though, his tame effort collected by Morocco keeper Yassine ‘Bono’ Bounou. The France captain may have been distracted by: a) an insane amount of faffing from the referee; b) Bono whirring his arms and legs at high speed; and/or c) organising the team’s travel itinerary for the semi-final.

Mbappé’s moment of unexpected weakness livened up an otherwise attritional first half, but he made up for it in style on the hour mark, curling home in clinical fashion for his eighth GWC goal. It was a spectacular finish, met with a collective Gallic shrug from armchair fans as France continue to make the audacious look routine. Six minutes later, the jig was up for Morocco when Bono allowed Ousmane Dembélé’s shot to slip through his fingers. One of this tournament’s very best sides, the Atlas Lions were finished, with or without that error – they ended the game with one shot on target and an xG dangerously close to zero.

“Many people say Kylian is a dictator, that he only thinks of himself,” Deschamps said afterwards, demonstrating an impressive awareness of various Social Media Disgraces for a 57-year-old. “He’s the captain and he’s exemplary.” Even the sight of Mbappé resting an ice pack on his ankle proved a false alarm for rival fans. He is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s semi-final in (a stadium somewhat close to) Dallas. France will face either Spain – yet to concede a goal in five matches – or an undead Belgium side who we could have sworn were knocked out ages ago. Still, if anyone can kill them off for good, Kylian can. He’s on a one-man mission to claim a GWC/Golden Boot/all-time top-scorer treble and ruin Lionel Messi’s retirement. It’s Mbappé’s World Cup – we’re just watching it.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I remember the first day I finished working with them. They were about to go for their match and I was on a flight to LA. I prayed for them and went to sleep. When I woke up, and it was time to get off the flight, my phone was buzzing. [Marcus] Rashford had scored and, wow, I was happy for them. He told me he loved his hair and lots of attention was paid to his look after the goal. But I didn’t know how big the [Geopolitics] World Cup was then. I know we love football in the UK but I didn’t know to this extent – like all the love I’m getting, with people saying: ‘Thank you for looking after our boys.’ I’m like: ‘Wow! Give me another medal!” – Donald McRae meets Jayèma, the east London hair stylist who has taken over the GWC.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

With the wealth of signings (Cerci, Stanway, Reuteler) already this summer, I wasn’t expecting any more. But then Arsenal follow in Hollywood’s footsteps and get Ona Batlle after another!” – James Vortkamp-Tong.

Please don’t refer to the USA USA USA as ‘Trump’s boys’ (yesterday’s Football Daily). From what I understand, they are sane, good sportsmen, well-liked, and a team to be proud of, quite unlike the person in question” – James Driskell.

A fellow reader of the France v Morocco MBM commented on how inevitable France look at the moment. This made me wonder, could this team go down in history as Les Inévitables?” – Peter Oh.

That was a rather touching last line reference to Bonnie Tyler (yesterday’s Football Daily, full email edition). One would like to read a story about the England team – average year of birth around 1998 – playing her classic tune in the locker room and singing along. Until they got to the hooky lyric, ‘Every now and then, I fall apart’. Good luck on Saturday, lads!’ – Mike Wilner.

If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Mike Wilner. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here. 

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Max Rushden and Barry Glendenning have gone coast to coast to bring you the latest episode of World Cup Daily from New York City, on France doing what France do and more. Listen here and watch it, too, if you like.

NEWS, BITS AND BOBS

A police officer has been hurt and several people were arrested after disorder on Edgware Road in London on Thursday after Morocco’s defeat by France.

Gazans turned out in large numbers to pay their respects to a senior Palestinian member of Egypt’s main aid organisation who was killed by an Israeli missile strike just before the game between Egypt and Argentina on Tuesday. Mohammad al-Waheidi had organised screenings of matches in Gaza.

Christian Pulisic is recovering from fracturing a leg in the USA USA USA’s 4-1 loss to Belgium.

England’s right-back troubles aren’t getting any easier: Jarell Quansah has been slapped with a two-match ban for his red card against Mexico and there won’t be any phone calls to Gianni Infantino to save him. “The decision’s been made – we won’t waste any more energy on it,” sighed England assistant Anthony Barry. “Overall for us, we lose a good player for two games, but it’s just another hurdle that we have to overcome.”

Dan Burn reckons he was partly responsible for Jordan Henderson breaking a wrist by tripping over an advertising hoarding at the Azteca. “I killed him a bit because I made it look easy,” said the 6ft 7in giant. “It was like a curb for me.”

Norse goal god Erling Haaland has loaded a wheelbarrow up with expectation and dumped it all over England before Saturday’s quarter-final with Norway. “I think there are some clear favourites out there. England are one,” he winked. “So I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.”

Belgium boss Rudi Garcia is ready to ride some global goodwill all the way past Spain into the GWC semi-finals. “We had 12 million Belgium fans and now, over the last few days, I think we have millions and millions behind us; they have joined our ranks and I think that will be great,” he roared.

And Jürgen Klopp has revealed how Liverpool spent time, energy and bundles of cash on chartering a plane to try and sign an 18-year-old Kylian Mbappé for no good reason. “The entire Mbappé family boarded a private jet with five rooms or something,” he parped. “We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food … and then he went to Paris. The most expensive non-transfer we’ve ever made.”

STILL WANT MORE?

Like Nosferatu on a golf weekend – but England players trust Thomas Tuchel and his aura, explains Barney Ronay.

Haaland v Bellingham: old Dortmund friends will take centre stage when Norway and England collide in the last eight, writes Andy Brassell.

Exit strategies: how and why 27% of GWC gaffers have or will do one from their jobs. By Natalie Tan and Calvin Burton.

“There is a magnificent balance”: Sid Lowe on Spain’s record-breaking defence.

London to Lisbon and back every game: Andrew Beasley crunches the data on England’s incredible collection of GWC air miles. He’s also teed up the quarter-final with Norway via some wingers focus.

Argentina continue to show their “heart” but flaws are apparent before a quarter-final date with Switzerland, reports Pablo Iglesias Maurer.

Here’s Raphaël Jucobin on how France’s attacking evolution under Didier Deschamps passed its latest Morocco test.

And if you like quizzing, take on the sport quiz of the week.

MEMORY LANE

Spain are about to go into battle against Belgium in Los Angeles for a place in the GWC semi-finals. But there is unlikely to be a tackle as violent in Inglewood as Nigel de Jong’s assault on Xabi Alonso 16 years ago, at the 2010 final in Johannesburg, when Spain faced the Netherlands. Howard Webb dished out a record 14 yellow cards (and two reds) during the match, and subsequently expressed regret that he failed to send off De Jong for the acrobatic flying kick on the cultured Spanish midfielder. Such roughhouse treatment from the Dutch couldn’t stop Spain adding the World Cup to the European Championship title they won in 2008: Andrés Iniesta belted in the winning goal four minutes from time, assisted by Cesc Fàbregas. De Jong is now the technical director of the Dutch FA, while Alonso is about to embark on his first season in charge of Chelsea. “Maybe one day we’ll see each other, have a beer and laugh about it,” De Jong honked in 2018 of his infamous tackle. He’s probably still waiting. By the way … MBM Howard Webb!

BEYOND THE GWC

England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died with a traumatic brain injury, a court heard as a coroner ruled an inquest into his death must be held.

Michael Edwards has done one from his role as chief football suit for Liverpool’s owner, Fenway Sports Group.

Manchester United insist their proposed 100,000 stadium – which looks more like a throat lozenge and less like a circus tent in the latest plans – is “not a vanity project”, despite the prospect of the club taking on more debt.

Yes, Arsenal have confirmed the arrival of Ona Batlle, one of four Spain players to leave the European champions on frees this summer.

Manchester City have signed Northern ⁠Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday on ⁠a contract ⁠until ​2031, immediately sending him out on loan to QPR.

And Newcastle face a sliding doors moment over Bruno Guimarães in their summer of upheaval, writes Lousie Taylor.

TRAIN DREAMS