|| Foxborough, USA: France and Morocco will reignite one of the FIFA World Cup's most compelling recent rivalries when they clash in the quarter-finals at Foxborough on Thursday night (2:00am Bangladesh time), with the Atlas Lions seeking redemption for their heartbreaking 2022 semi-final defeat.Four years after France ended Morocco's dream run with a 2-0 victory in Qatar, the African side has another opportunity to settle the score—this time with a place in the semi-finals at stake.France arrive as one of the tournament's most dominant teams, remaining unbeaten and leading the scoring charts with 14 goals. Star forward Kylian Mbappé has netted seven times, trailing only Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. However, Les Bleus face a potential setback with midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni struggling with injury ahead of the crucial encounter.Speaking before the match, France head coach Didier Deschamps stressed the need for greater efficiency in front of goal despite his team's ability to create chances."In football, it's not about how many opportunities you create, but how many you convert," Deschamps said, adding that France must be clinical against a side as disciplined as Morocco.The French coach also praised Morocco's remarkable progress since the 2022 World Cup, describing them as a far more mature team with genuine title ambitions rather than simply aiming for another memorable campaign.Morocco, meanwhile, have continued their impressive rise on the world stage. After defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the Round of 16, the Atlas Lions booked their place in the quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada.Led by captain Achraf Hakimi, Morocco have built their success on defensive organisation while posing a constant attacking threat through Azzedine Ounahi and their pace on the counterattack.Although France hold the advantage in the overall head-to-head record, Morocco have repeatedly demonstrated during this World Cup that they are capable of upsetting football's traditional powerhouses. Their disciplined defensive structure and swift transitions are expected to test the reigning European giants.Former Morocco forward Zakaria Aboukhlal, who was not included in this year's World Cup squad, still carries vivid memories of the 2022 semi-final defeat.Reflecting on that match, he said Morocco continued fighting despite conceding early but warned that France are a team that punish even the slightest mistake."Against France, one counterattack can change the entire game," he remarked.With a place in the semi-finals on the line, Thursday's showdown promises a fascinating contest between France's experience and attacking firepower and Morocco's resilience, discipline and desire for revenge—one that could produce one of the standout matches of the tournament.