“We had little to fear” – Rabiot aims jab at Morocco after France seal progress

Adrien Rabiot took a jab at France’s World Cup quarter-final opponents Morocco after they knocked them out on Thursday.

Rabiot and his Milan team-mate Mike Maignan played the full match in Foxborough, which Les Bleus prevailed in thanks to goals in the second half from arguably their main two threats, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.

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Many predicted Morocco to make it tough for France, but ultimately they barely laid a glove on them prior to the two knockout blows. Mbappe even failed to convert a first-half penalty, so it was a very one-sided win to book a spot in the final four.

Rabiot ‘surprised’ by Morocco

After the game, Rabiot spoke to beIN Sports to share his thoughts on what was another memorable night for the French national team under Didier Deschamps. His words have been relayed by Open The Magazine.

“We felt that in the moments when we didn’t have the ball and we let them have it, they weren’t very dangerous. We had little to fear from this team. That’s the feeling we had on the pitch. It’s surprising,” he said.

“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.

“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 dressing room [a 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.”