France marched into the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup on August 8, easily accounting for Morocco 4-0 at Coopers Stadium in front of 13,557 fans, who saw the French score three goals in 490 first half seconds to effectively end the game as a contest before a quarter of the match had been played. "Les Bleus" were on their game early, Kadidiatou Diani getting to the by-line in the sixth minute before firing in a cross for Eugenie Le Sommer which Khadija Er-Rmichi grabbed before the striker had a chance to exploit the opportunities it presented. Six minutes later, Le Sommer was the player reaching the by-line, from where she pulled the ball back to Selma Bacha. She was caught in possession by Ghizlane Chebbak, who was then on hand to complete the clearance after Er-Rmichi had punched out Sakina Karchaoui's cross. When France next attacked, on the quarter hour, they were celebrating their first goal. Elisa De Almeida fed Karchaoui, who worked a one-two with Bacha which allowed the overlapping fullback to scoot clear and pick out the unmarked figure of Diani, who headed home from six yards as Er-Rmichi went ballistic at Zineb Redouani, the fullback having failed to pick up the striker and potentially prevent the goal. Five minutes later, "Les Bleus" conjured up a high quality goal, which was started by Wendie Renard's measured ball out of defence. The delightful touch by Kenza Dali opened up Morocco's defence, with Diani racing into the penalty area before inviting Dali, racing up in support, the chance to let rip from fifteen yards. Her first-time drive crashed into the net off the far post - 2-0. Make that 3-0 three minutes later, as France put any doubts about reaching the quarter-finals to bed early doors. Diani was again involved, the pressure she exuded on Nesryne El Chad near the by-line forcing the defender into a hurried clearance which ricocheted off the striker straight into the stride of Le Sommer, who belted it past Er-Rmichi without a second's hesitation. Things could have got ugly for Morocco at this stage, as they had in their first match, when they shipped six at Germany's hands. Chebbak gathered the troops together while France were still celebrating their third goal, and the result of their pow-wow saw things tightened up markedly by the half-hour mark, but not before the French had twice more threatened to increase their lead. Karchaoui was having a fine old time on the left flank, and her 27th minute cross caused problems in the Moroccan defence, with Nouhaila Benzina heading the ball away as Er-Rmichi was leaping to grab the cross. A minute later, Diani's lovely touch sent Bacha dashing through the inside left channel, from where she rattled the side-netting with her shot. It wasn't until the 41st minute that France fired their next shot in anger, Sandie Toletti volleying past Er-Rmichi's right-hand post after Bacha had seen her cross from the by-line cleared to her team-mate by Benzina. On the stroke of half-time, defensive hesitance by Redouani was pounced on by Le Sommer, who invited Diani to capitalise upon it. Er-Rmichi had other ideas, swiftly shutting down the chance to ensure that there would be no further scoring before the half-time whistle.

The Moroccans enjoyed the better of the early exchanges in the second spell, with Pauline Peyraud-Magnin dashing off her line to save at the feet of Ibtissam Jraidi after she was played in by Sakina Ouzraoui in the 49th minute. France responded instantly via Renard, who sent Bacha dashing down the left. Her cross was again cleared, this time to Grace Geyoro, whose goal-bound volley was blocked to safety by El Chad. Back came Morocco three minutes later, Chebbak leading the charge, robbing Geyoro of the ball before cheekily back-heeling it to Ouzraoui, who turned away from two before giving the ball back to her captain. Chebbak's cross, intended for Jraidi, was grabbed by Peyraud-Megnin. After Hanane Ait El Haj had been booked - she was extremely fortunate not to be sent off by USA referee Toni Penso for either of two challenges she committed later in the match - Chebbak intercepted an Eve Perisset pass on the hour and powered forward before unleashing a thirty yard through ball which Anissa Lahmari was all over like a rash. Peyraud-Megnin raced off her line to deny the striker a goal which few present would have found reason to complain about had Morocco scored, so strong are the ties between these countries. Having been given a scare, France stepped things up a gear, with Dali working an opening on the right before delivering a cross. Diani rose for it, Er-Rmichi came for it, both missed it, but the 'keeper was first to react after the ball had struck Le Sommer and rebounded back towards her. Halfway through the second spell, Karchaoui won the ball on halfway and stormed downfield, getting to the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a shot which she directed straight at Er-Rmichi. Twenty minutes from time, France wrapped up the scoring in style. Freshly introduced substitute Vicki Becho stood up Redouani, engineering space from where she delivered a gorgeous curling cross to the far post. Le Sommer read the flight of the cross superbly, and guided her header inside the upright, much to the ire of Er-Rmichi, who was furious at conceding a fourth goal. Just two opportunities were engineered in the time remaining, both by the team who'll be facing Australia in the quarter-finals. Diani somehow fired over from six yards in the 77th minute after a superbly worked free-kick involving Bacha and De Almeida, while El Chad's timely intervention prevented French substitute Naomie Feller from racing through on goal six minutes from time. France were comfortable winners - no surprise there, but Morocco have won many friends at these Finals, and in their captain have a genuine star in their ranks. Many's the smaller nation - New Zealand included - who have or have had that one player in their midst who would be a certain starter in a far superior team, such is their quality. Chebbak is very much in that category - one of the brightest lights on show at this FIFA Women's World Cup for the ages. France:          Peyraud-Magnin; Perisset (Cascarino, 81), Renard, De Almeida, Karchaoui (Tounkara, 90); Dali, Toletti (Becho, 64), Geyoro, Bacha; Diani (Asseyi, 90), Le Sommer (Feller, 81) Morocco:     Er-Rmichi; Ait El Haj (booked, 57), El Chad, Benzina, Redouani; Ouzraoui, Nakkach (Kassi, 64), Chebbak, Tagnaout (Bouftini, 64); Jraidi, Lahmari (Ayane, 64) Referee:     Toni Penso (USA)