France are through to a third straight World Cup semi-final after a 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco in Boston - but did the win come at a price following injury to Kylian Mbappe?
Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scored second-half goals to settle a rematch of the 2022 last-four tie, but the night ended with a worry.
Mbappe went down off the ball in the 77th minute, signalled to the bench and was replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta. An ice pack was strapped to his right ankle as he watched the closing minutes. Is it serious and how will France cope without him?
What Mbappe and Didier Deschamps said
Mbappe moved freely during the post-match celebrations and played down the concern.
"I have a minor ankle injury, but I am completely fine," Mbappe told reporters. "Mateta was in a better position to play the remaining minutes of the match and was fitter at that moment."
Didier Deschamps confirmed it was an ankle issue and that his captain was "a little sore," but said he was not concerned about his availability for the semi-final.
That is the headline. France's medical staff now have five days. The semi-final is on Tuesday July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against Spain in what is a huge clash.
Why France can absorb the scare
Mbappe has only completed 90 minutes in two of France's six games this summer. Deschamps has managed his minutes carefully throughout, often withdrawing him once the result is safe.
He still leads France's scoring with seven goals and sits on 19 career World Cup goals, within one of Lionel Messi's all-time record of 20. Dembele has five of his own.
Before the Morocco game, France had scored 13 goals across five wins. This has not been a one-man side. They have the deepest forward line left in the tournament.
The semi-final opponent
Spain await on Tuesday after beating Belgium in the quarter-finals. Spain made it six straight World Cup clean sheets - the longest run in the competition's history - having edged Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals but Belgium finally breached the backline in a 2-1 loss.
How France line up with Mbappe
Deschamps has used a settled 4-2-3-1. The quarter-final XI was: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe.
If Mbappe is passed fit, that XI picks itself. The only debate is in midfield, where Aurelien Tchouameni missed the Morocco game with an adductor injury and Manu Kone deputised. Marcus Thuram remains sidelined with a thigh problem.
How France line up without Mbappe
If Mbappe does not start, Deschamps has two realistic routes.
Option A - Mateta as the like-for-like No.9.
Bring Mateta in as the out-and-out striker. Keep Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola behind him.
Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mateta.
Mateta changes the profile. He is a target man - physical, good in the air, strong at holding play up. Against Spain's high line, a direct runner in behind and a body to occupy the centre-backs gives France a different threat. Deschamps already turned to him against Morocco, which tells you where he sits in the pecking order.
Option B - Dembele through the middle
Move Dembele into a central role and restore Desire Doue or shift Barcola across. Dembele has five goals and is the in-form attacker.
Playing him as a false nine keeps France's front four fluid and rewards the player most likely to hurt Spain or Belgium in the half-spaces.
Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Doue.
This is the braver call. It asks Dembele to lead the line, a role he has not played at this tournament.
The view
Mbappe starts. The timeline favours him - five days of treatment for a knock he described as minor, and a captain who was dancing with team-mates at full-time.
Deschamps will not gamble on an ankle at a World Cup semi-final. If the medics advise caution, Mateta is the cleanest swap.
He gives France a physical edge and protects the rest of the shape. Dembele central is the exciting alternative if France want to stretch Spain's defence with movement rather than muscle.
The midfield picture matters more than the headlines suggest. If Tchouameni is not fit, Kone keeps his place and France lose their most commanding ball-winner against a Spain side that dominates possession.
France have the firepower to win without Mbappe. They would rather not have to.