Kick-off: 1500, 10/12/2022
Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium
TV: ITV
Portugal did an absolute demolition job on Switzerland and are now fancied to end Morocco’s fairytale run at Qatar 2022 if maintaining that momentum.
The Atlas Lions showed great resilience to stifle Spain and then prevail on penalties, but their next opponents have more of a cutting edge up front than La Roja.
We like 9/5 for the Navigators to win by more than one clear goal for our first Morocco vs Portugal prediction.
That bet would have come in for all bar one of their nine victories this year!
Morocco Odds
It goes without saying that Morocco deserve plenty of credit for their exploits during this World Cup tournament.
The Atlas Lions were only third favourites for their strong group but upset the odds to top the table with seven points.
After opening up with a 0-0 draw versus Croatia, they stunned Belgium 2-0 and finished off by beating Canada 2-1.
Walid Regragui’s men deserved more of a reward for that achievement than facing Spain next up, but they again showed no respect for reputations.
La Roja had 77 per cent of the possession but were kept at bay before falling apart in a penalty shoot-out.
Sevilla goalkeeper Bono, born in Canada, was the hero, saving from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets after Pablo Sarabia hit the post.
Madrid-born Achraf Hakimi coolly chipped in the decisive spot-kick and is one of 14 players in this squad originating from outside Morocco.
Regragui, himself born in France, declared: “We have shown that every Moroccan is Moroccan. When he comes to the national team he wants to die, he wants to fight.
“Every time they come to the national team, they give 100 per cent. Every country has a football culture and we have created a successful mixture and I’m very happy with that.”
With just a solitary own goal conceded so far, the Atlas Lions will battle hard once more and have been backed by great support in Qatar.
However, we fear this may be one bridge too far and Portugal are tipped to eventually wear them down.
Looking at the 16/5 for Draw HT/Portugal FT.
Portugal Odds
Many pundits expressed pre-tournament fears over whether Cristiano Ronaldo could still lead Portugal to glory at the age of 37, but it might just be the case that they no longer need him.
Ronaldo struck from the penalty spot in an opening 3-2 defeat of Ghana but Bruno Fernandes was credited with both goals in a 2-0 triumph versus Uruguay.
The free agent was criticised for his reaction to being substituted in a 2-1 loss to South Korea and Fernando Santos laid down the law by benching him against Switzerland.
That looked a huge call to make ahead of taking on opponents who were quarter-finalists at last year’s European Championship.
However, Ronaldo’s replacement Goncalo Ramos marked his maiden international start with a stunning hat-trick as the Navigators romped to a 6-1 victory.
At 39, Pepe became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup knockout history, while Raphael Guerreiro and Rafael Leao also netted.
Santos was keen to diffuse any talk of a rift with Ronaldo, stating: “I have a very close relationship with him – I always have, I have known him since he was 19 years old.
“I will always consider in my role that he is an important player to have in the team…but all we have to do is think about this team collectively.”
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin conceded Portugal had been “better, faster and more offensive”.
Playmakers such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix have the creativity to break down even the most stubborn of defences.
Let’s add 15/4 for the European outfit to oblige by exactly two goals to our Morocco vs Portugal betting tips.
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