The French were heavy favourites against the World Cup debutants and showed their superiority during a first-half clinic in Adelaide.

France in top form

Kadidiatou Diani nodded in the opener on the quarter-hour and five minutes later it was 2-0, Aston Villa midfielder Kenza Dali sweeping in a well-placed first-time finish.

Eugenie Le Sommer extended France’s lead midway just after the midway point of the opening period, this time some suspect Moroccan defending their undoing.

Perisset, deployed at right-back, was typically assured in possession, but in truth her and her fellow Bleues did not have much defending to do.

Comfortable clean sheet

Morocco did offer a bit more of a threat early in the second half, but Herve Renard’s side stood firm to record their second clean sheet of the tournament.

At the other end, Le Sommer added her second and France’s fourth with a simple header in the 70th minute.

Perisset was withdrawn as the contest wound down to its conclusion, France conserving energy for the bigger test of hosts Australia that lies ahead in Brisbane this weekend.

What’s next?

There is Chelsea interest in every quarter-final, starting with Netherlands against Spain and Japan versus Sweden on Friday.

On Saturday, Australia meet France and England take on Colombia, who beat Jamaica 1-0 earlier today. We are now guaranteed at least one Chelsea player in each semi-final, too!