Kick-off: 1900, 14/12/2022
Stadium: Al Bayt Stadium
TV: BBC1
Morocco have enjoyed an amazing run through to the World Cup semi-finals and we reckon they will give holders France a tough test in Qatar.
Roared on by a passionate support, the Atlas Lions have upset the odds time and time again to become the first African team to get this far.
An incredibly resilient and well-organised defence has conceded just one goal during a five-match unbeaten stretch.
The underdogs are 7/5 to avoid defeat in normal time again here and that is our first France vs Morocco prediction.
France Odds
France obviously have to be feared, as they remain on course to become the first back-to-back World Cup winners for 60 years.
Les Bleus have produced a mixed set of results this time around, though.
During the group stage, they accounted for Australia and Denmark but were edged out 1-0 by another plucky north African outfit in Tunisia.
A 3-1 triumph over Poland at the last-16 stage was impressive, but England looked the better team for large parts of a 2-1 quarter-final victory.
France were on target through Aurelien Tchouameni’s excellent strike and a fine Olivier Giroud header, while at the other end, Harry Kane scored one penalty and missed another.
“England had a very good team,” admitted Didier Deschamps. “What they showed in terms of their technical ability, their intensity, even though we put up a good fight, was impressive.
“I regret the fact that we gave them a penalty and then gave them another penalty that they missed, but credit to my team as well. We also showed some very good things and we can still be dangerous.
“We have great quality and very impressive mental strength, plus we do have experience.
“In these very important games it always comes down to very small details and luckily it went our way…you need a bit of luck sometimes.”
Les Bleus benefitted from Antoine Griezmann putting in his best international performance for some years, with an outstanding cross nodded in by Giroud.
However, Kyle Walker did manage to keep Kylian Mbappe relatively quiet and Morocco have their own flying full-back in Achraf Hakimi.
Looking at the France vs Morocco odds, we like 29/10 for extra-time to be needed.
Morocco Odds
Morocco weren’t even expected to make it past the group stage after being drawn alongside two semi-finalists from 2018, but ended up topping the table with seven points.
Following a goalless stalemate with Croatia, they stunned Belgium 2-0 before a fast start helped them to beat Canada 2-1.
The Canucks are still the only team to have breached Walid Regragui’s well-drilled defence – and that was via a deflected own goal.
The Atlas Lions soaked up relentless pressure from Spain quite comfortably prior to prevailing on penalties.
A red-hot Portugal side which had put six past Switzerland then had 73 per cent of the possession but couldn’t reply to Youssef En-Nesyri’s 42nd-minute header.
Goalkeeper Bono was named man of the match after making several important saves, notably a brilliant one-handed effort from a late Joao Felix shot.
Regragui beamed: “I think we are becoming the team that everyone loves in this World Cup because we are showing the world that you can achieve even if you don’t have as much talent, as much quality, as much money.
“If you work hard enough and you show that desire, that passion and belief then you can succeed.
“It’s no miracle. We’ve beaten Belgium, Spain, Portugal without letting in a goal. That’s not a miracle. That’s the result of hard work.
“I’m not getting carried away because I know we could have conceded, but we made our people happy and proud and we’ve made the continent happy and proud, and so many people around the world.
“When you watch Rocky you want to support Rocky Balboa because of his heart and commitment and I think we’re the Rocky of this World Cup.”
Captain Romain Saiss having to come off with an injury against Portugal is a big concern, but Morocco are all about a collective spirit, rather than individuals.
It is 11/4 for the Atlas Lions to again make history and qualify for the final and, with all of Africa willing them on, that is added to our France vs Morocco betting tips.
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