Mbappé Miss Penalty as France Holds Morocco 0-0

Mbappé’s Crucial Miss

Kylian Mbappé had a prime chance in the 28th minute to open the scoring for France against Morocco. Yassine Bounou denied him with a strong save. VAR took more than three minutes to review a foul by Noussair Mazraoui, giving Mbappé extra time to reset his routine. After the stop, Mbappé voiced his displeasure to Argentine referee Facundo Tello, who offered little response.

Facts on Mbappé’s Penalty Record

A successful spot kick would have matched Lionel Messi at eight goals in the Golden Boot race. The miss snapped a streak of 15 consecutive successful penalties for Mbappé. His previous penalty miss came in a Euro 2020 Round of 16 defeat to Switzerland. Converting would have tied him with Messi for the lead in the tournament’s scoring contest. The missed chance also left Messi as France’s top scorer in the competition.

Bounou’s Save History

Bounou’s stop marked his fourth penalty save in World Cup history, including shootouts. Opponents have scored on only two of the nine attempts he has faced, with three missing the target. The remaining two attempts were saved by Bounou, per Squawka data. His performance underscores Morocco’s defensive resilience.

VAR Delay and Referee Incident

A three‑minute VAR review followed Mazraoui’s foul, extending the moment of tension. The delay forced Mbappé to restart his pre‑penalty routine multiple times. When the ball was returned, Mbappé confronted Argentine referee Facundo Tello, who appeared uninterested. The exchange highlighted the frustration that can arise from lengthy reviews.

Final Score and Road Ahead

The match finished 0‑0 at halftime, leaving the score locked. France will need to sharpen their attacking output in the knockout stage. Bounou’s save sets a new benchmark for goalkeepers facing French pressure. Both sides now know a single moment can decide a World Cup tie.