Kick-off: 1300, 27/11/2022
Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium
TV: BBC
Belgium were far from convincing in their opening win over Canada but still get the nod to edge out Morocco in the second round of Group F games.
The Atlas Lions picked up a deserved point versus Croatia but that was a pretty tepid affair and this is rated a tougher test.
We’re sticking with the Red Devils to prevail at 98/100 for our first Belgium vs Morocco prediction.
Belgium Odds
Belgium finished third in 2018 and Michy Batshuayi’s strike on the stroke of half-time got them up and running against Canada in Qatar.
However, the North Americans missed a penalty and were controversially denied two more as their high-pressing tactics unsettled the Red Devils.
“I don’t think we played well enough as a team,” commented Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. “We didn’t find any solutions.
“We started really badly, the momentum was with Canada and we didn’t find a way through their press.
“I don’t think we played a good game today, me included, but we found a way to win and that was it.”
That performance may have increased fears that Father Time has started to take some of the shine off Belgium’s golden generation.
This match-up should be more to their liking, though, with Morocco likely to sit back and allow De Bruyne and Eden Hazard to enjoy the run of things.
It could be another tight outcome, but 13/5 for the Red Devils to oblige by any one-goal margin appeals from the Belgium vs Morocco odds.
Morocco Odds
Morocco were involved in three close encounters four years ago, going down 1-0 to Iran and Portugal before drawing with Spain.
The Atlas Lions appear to be approaching this tournament with a similar mindset, judged on an uneventful encounter with Croatia.
Walid Regragui’s side forced second-half saves out of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic through full-backs Noussair Mazraoui and Achraf Hakimi.
But Morocco were mostly content to allow Croatia to dominate possession in a game of few significant chances and played largely in the middle third of the pitch.
Regragui said: “We respect Croatia a lot, we know they are one of the best teams in the world – they have Kovacic, they have Modric, they have many great players.
“We were not able to win this match but the outcome was great. We did our best and I am proud of the boys. This match was on a really high level.
“When you begin with a loss, your dream is finished. This game, it gives us more confidence.”
It is probably safe to assume that Morocco’s gameplan will be to try and hold out for another draw here and then go for victory versus Canada.
Their opponents may just have too much nous as the match goes on, though, so 4/1 for Draw HT/Belgium FT is added to our Belgium vs Morocco betting tips.
Additional stats
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