Koné eliminates El Aynaoui as France beats Morocco 2–0 to reach World Cup semi-finals

Manu Koné produced an outstanding performance as France defeated Morocco 2-0, showcasing the intensity and ball-winning prowess that have marked his tournament. Deployed in midfield as Tchouameni faced repeated fitness issues, Koné made his fourth World Cup start across six appearances, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by Zaire-Emery. His display was characterised by relentless pressing and tactical discipline, recovering possession at crucial moments—including one key intervention early in the second half on a Brahim Diaz counter-attack that could have shifted the match's trajectory. Koné's statistics underlined his control of the middle ground: 35 completed passes from 38 attempts (92% accuracy), one key pass, six ball recoveries, four tackles won, and one shot attempted. His energetic contribution drew praise from supporters on social media. The Roma midfielder's combative style marks a departure from his domestic approach, where he typically operates with more restraint. Notably, his Roma teammate Neil El Aynaoui also featured in the fixture. France now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium.

France advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup in America by defeating Morocco 2-0. Adrien Rabiot praised his midfield partner Manu Koné after the match, telling beIN Sports: "Io e Manu siamo stati devastanti, li abbiamo divorati. Quando lasciavamo loro il possesso palla, non erano molto pericolosi. Avevamo poco da temere col Marocco. Questa è la sensazione che abbiamo avuto in campo. È sorprendente. Restano comunque una squadra capace di fare la differenza in qualsiasi momento, perché hanno giocatori individuali straordinari. Per questo siamo sempre rimasti vigili." Koné, a Roma midfielder, featured prominently in the France midfield during the knockout fixture. Rabiot's assessment highlighted the pair's control of the match's tempo and their ability to limit Morocco's attacking threat. Manager Didier Deschamps' side now await their semi-final opponent as the tournament progresses.

France advanced to the World Cup semi-final with a 2–0 victory over Morocco, confirming their status as favourites for the tournament after losing the 2022 final to Argentina. Roma midfielder Manu Koné delivered a standout performance and is expected to start in Tuesday's semi-final at 21:00 against the winner of Spain vs Belgium. Koné spoke enthusiastically after the match about playing alongside France's attacking options. Asked about the experience of performing behind Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé and Bradley Barcola, he said: "Bellissimo! To be honest there are great players and today they showed it. We really are a great squad, we must continue like this. We are very happy, we hope everyone is. Basically we hope to get to the end of the competition." The Roma player's commanding display has secured him a starting berth for the decisive match ahead.

Gian Piero Gasperini has reason to be pleased with his two World Cup-bound midfielders, Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, after their displays in recent weeks. Despite their quality, the pair started together only five times during the previous season under Roma's coach: three occasions in Europa League against Nizza, Viktoria Plzen, and Midtjylland, and twice in Serie A. The limited partnerships stand in stark contrast to their recent performances on the international stage in the USA. The World Cup traditionally reshapes team dynamics and attracts attention from rival clubs, particularly if nations progress deep into the tournament. Koné faces heightened interest should France reach the final stages, while El Aynaoui has long been the subject of admiration from other sides. Should both continue at Roma, however, Gasperini will command two midfielders in peak condition—a resource valuable both on the pitch and potentially in financial terms should circumstances demand a sale.

Manu Koné produced an outstanding performance as France defeated Morocco 2-0, showcasing the intensity and ball-winning prowess that have marked his tournament. Deployed in midfield as Tchouameni faced repeated fitness issues, Koné made his fourth World Cup start across six appearances, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by Zaire-Emery. His display was characterised by relentless pressing and tactical discipline, recovering possession at crucial moments—including one key intervention early in the second half on a Brahim Diaz counter-attack that could have shifted the match's trajectory. Koné's statistics underlined his control of the middle ground: 35 completed passes from 38 attempts (92% accuracy), one key pass, six ball recoveries, four tackles won, and one shot attempted. His energetic contribution drew praise from supporters on social media. The Roma midfielder's combative style marks a departure from his domestic approach, where he typically operates with more restraint. Notably, his Roma teammate Neil El Aynaoui also featured in the fixture. France now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium.

France reached the World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 2–0 victory over Morocco, with Roma midfielder Manu Koné playing a central role in the triumph. Adrien Rabiot, his partner in France's midfield, publicly praised Koné's display after the match, highlighting their dominance in the middle of the park. Rabiot said: "Me and Manu were devastating, we ate them up," referring to the midfield duel. He added broader context on France's control: "We had the feeling that in moments when we didn't have the ball and 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. But they remain a team that can make a difference at any moment because they have extraordinary individual players. That's why we always stayed alert." French media gave Koné equally strong marks. Le Parisien called him "omnipresent", while L'Équipe praised his dominant performance and complete display. The match carried special significance for Roma: Koné and fellow club teammate Neil El Aynaoui faced each other with a semi-final berth at stake. The Frenchman advanced while the Moroccan's tournament ended at the quarter-final stage. After the final whistle, the two Roma players embraced in a show of mutual respect, a gesture later shared on social media by Koné's partner.