Youssef En-Nesyri rose highest to beat Portugal's goalkeeper Diogo Costa to a hopeful cross at Al Thumama Stadium, giving Morocco a lead they would never relinquish shortly before the interval.

Morocco's resolute defence has been one of the keys to their success - they had only conceded once all tournament entering this match - and so it proved, with Portugal unable to break through.

Bruno Fernandes came closest shortly after the Morocco goal, but saw his spectacular effort crash back off the crossbar.

Morocco also squandered a brilliant chance to make it 2-0 moments before the break, but left-back Yahya Attiat-Allah sliced wide with just Costa to beat and the goal gaping.

Bono made an excellent save from João Félix after the break and a more routine one from substitute Cristiano Ronaldo, but in truth Portugal created few chances of note.

Even a late red card for Walid Cheddira, twice booked after coming off the Morocco bench, could not help Portugal. 

Morocco received emphatic support from the crowd in Doha and have been able to call on the backing of the Arab world this tournament, as well as spearheading African hopes.

They are the first African team ever to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, going one better than the Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana sides of 1990, 2002 and 2010, respectively.

France await after a back-and-fourth win over England in which, not for the first time these quarter-finals, a referee was centre of attention.

The French led 1-0 at the break via a long-range Aurélien Tchouaméni effort.

England were paying close attention to Kylian Mbappé but not enough to Tchouaméni, who punished them from 25 yards out.

The English felt they were robbed of a penalty in the first half but got one in the second when Tchouaméni tripped Bukayo Saka.

Hugo Lloris guess wrong in the French goal Harry Kane levelled the score.

England were in the ascendency, with Jude Bellingham having stung Lloris' palms right before the equaliser and Harry Maguire sending a free header wide not long thereafter, but France hit them with a sucker punch.

Maguire gave Olivier Giroud too much space, Antoine Griezmann crossed brilliantly from the left and by the time Maguire caught up all he could do was deflect the ball into his own net.

Theo Hernández needlessly barged Mason Mount to the ground as he chased a long ball to give England a penalty, after a video check, and reprieve in the closing 10 minutes.

However, Kane blasted his second penalty of the game over the bar.

Marcus Rashford came close but not close enough with a 101st-minute free kick. 

It fizzed over and France won 2-1.

The defending champions' one loss at this tournament came against another African country, Tunisia, in the group stage, which may give Morocco hope - not that they need it after dispatching off the impressive Spain and then Portugal.

Al Bayt Stadium, where France played tonight, is the venue for Morocco and France's semi-final on Wednesday (December 14).