Morocco vs Portugal prediction: WORLD: World Cup – Play Offs betting tips on match 2022-12-09 15:00.
This World Cup might have given us the most round-of-16 goals since the reintroduction of the stage in 1986, but after a 0-0 stalemate with Spain, it was a dramatic penalties win which saw Morocco progress. Carrying the torch for Africa after becoming just the fourth team from the continent, and first Arab nation, to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup, they now meet Portugal, a side that beat them 1-0 in the group stages four years ago.
Walid Regragui, the first African manager to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after outmanoeuvring esteemed Spanish coach Luis Enrique, is unlikely to be fearful, considering his side have let in just one goal this tournament. FIFA recently stated that ââMoroccan football is starting to reap rewards of the Federationâs good workââ and it appears the skyâs the limit for the Atlas Lions, whoâll now take aim at becoming the continentâs first-ever World Cup semi-finalists.
The history makers will face a side in ominous form however, with Portugalâs whopping 6-1 last-16 victory over Switzerland only the second time theyâve scored 6+ goals at a major tournament! A huge sub-plot to the victory was manager Fernando Santos opting to drop Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench, a decision fully vindicated by his replacement 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos netting a hat-trick on his first World Cup start!
The young forward is the first player to achieve that feat on his full debut in the competition since Miroslav Klose in 2002, playing a vital role in a fluid team performance that wrapped up a first World Cup knockout win for the Seleção in 16 years. Belief is growing back home then, especially as Portugal are led by Santos, who already has hero status after guiding Portugal to European Championship glory in 2016.
Key battle: After an NFL-inspired hoddle celebration in Morocco's penalties win over Spain, Achraf Hakimi will be looking to touchdown with another surprise victory here. The right-back has won the joint-most tackles (11) at this tournament so far but will be meeting hat-trick hero Ramos, who was only three years old when Ronaldo first scored at a major international tournament, but has already scored more goals for Portugal in the World Cup knockout stages.
Hot stat: Morocco have conceded just one goal in their last eight outings (W6, D2)!
World Cup trivia: The 0-0 draw against Spain before Moroccoâs eventual penalties win was a seventh at this World Cup, equalling an all-time record in the competition.