The China Mail - France, Morocco kick off blockbuster World Cup quarter-finals

After a month of scintillating action that has dispelled anxieties over sky-high ticket prices and geopolitics, the biggest, boldest and most logistically complex World Cup ever staged has been whittled down to eight teams.

France have emerged as the outstanding side after a series of dazzling attacking displays.

But they face their toughest test so far in the shape of African champions Morocco at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, outside Boston.

Les Bleus have surged into the last eight in style, scoring 14 goals in five games -- seven of them from prolific captain Kylian Mbappe -- one of four star strikers battling for the Golden Boot.

Argentina's Lionel Messi tops the scoring chart with eight, Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland have seven each and England's Harry Kane has six.

Thursday's opening quarter-final is a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar, won by France, who would go on to lose an all-time classic final against Argentina on penalties.

Morocco have looked impressive, easing through the group phase before battling past the Netherlands in the last 32 and swatting aside Canada.

The Atlas Lions boast a potent mix of technical quality, physicality and tactical nous under the guidance of coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who masterminded Morocco's shock victory in the under-20 World Cup last year.

France coach Didier Deschamps said he was unconcerned by the appointment of Argentine officials to oversee the match, with a repeat of the 2022 final still possible.

A heated rivalry between the two teams grew out of that match in Doha.

"There is nothing I can do about refereeing appointments. I just try to have confidence in the officials," said Deschamps, who is stepping down after the tournament.

He added: "Our opponents are Morocco. I can't consider the referee to be an opponent."

The winner will advance to a semi-final against the victor of Friday's tie in Los Angeles between European champions Spain and Belgium.

The clinical Spaniards, who have not conceded a single goal so far, eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the last 16.

While La Roja have not hit the dizzying attacking heights of France, they will fancy their chances of overcoming Belgium, who dismantled the United States 4-1 in the last 16.

- Houdini act -

On the other side of the draw, holders Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after staggering into the quarter-finals.

The South Americans, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962, were given an almighty scare by Cape Verde in the last 32.

On Tuesday, Messi inspired an incredible Houdini act in a jaw-dropping 3-2 defeat of Egypt in Atlanta, when the reigning champions were seemingly down and out, trailing by two goals late in the game.

Messi, who missed a penalty in the first half, said: "We didn't want today to be the end, we didn't want to go home."

The winner of the Argentina-Switzerland clash will face either Norway or England in Atlanta.

England advanced with a pulsating 3-2 defeat of Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, winning an extraordinary, drama-filled contest that has given the Three Lions renewed belief in their bid to win a first major title since 1966.

Blocking England's path is a formidable Norway side spearheaded by the irrepressible Haaland, who scored both goals in Sunday's last-16 win over Brazil.

Off the field, the Egyptian football federation said it had asked for the officiating team that handled the Pharaohs' defeat to Argentina to be thrown out of the World Cup.

The federation filed a complaint to FIFA pointing out "serious refereeing mistakes committed by the team of referees and double standards, which caused the Egypt team to lose the match".

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic announced his resignation after nine years in charge, which included a run to the final in 2018.

L.Johnson--ThChM