98% pass accuracy, 7 defensive contributions: In-form United star’s World Cup run ends in heartbreaking loss

Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui’s brave World Cup run has come to an end following Morocco’s elimination at the hands of France. Morocco out Morocco dreamed of reliving their 2022 World Cup heroics, when they defied all odds to reach the semi-finals, but the magic ran out this time as France proved an insurmountable obstacle. From the start, France were the more dominant side, pegging Morocco back inside their own half. A golden opportunity presented itself to Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe when he was brought down in the area by Mazraoui, earning Les Bleus a penalty and a chance to take the lead. However, a prolonged delay in taking the spot-kick resulted in Mbappe missing as Yassine Bounou kept his effort out. He made up for it just past the hour, though, curling a magnificent strike into the top corner from outside the box. Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele added a second shortly after to secure the victory and condemn Morocco to a heartbreaking exit. Mazraoui was named at the heart of Morocco’s defence alongside Issa Diop. It was a fantastic tournament for Mazraoui and it was no different against France, although it ultimately didn’t count for too much at the end of it all. Mazraoui’s performance The United star made seven defensive contributions. He chipped in with one tackle and four clearances. Mazraoui also blocked a shot and made a couple of recoveries. The 28-year-old won one of the two ground duels he delved into and was beaten in all two aerial contests that he contested. StatisticTotal Defensive contributions7 Tackles1 Clearances4 Blocks1 Recoveries2 Ground duels won / total1 / 2 Aerial duels won / total0 / 2 Touches61 Passes attempted52 Passes completed51 Pass completion rate98% (Stats obtained from Sofascore) Mazraoui recorded 61 touches of the ball and demonstrated his customary composure in possession, successfully finding a teammate with 51 of the 52 passes he attempted ( pass completion rate of 98%). Mazraoui will now get a few weeks off to recharge his batteries before he returns for pre-season with United. Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Latest Top Stories… Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!