France W vs Morocco W prediction: WORLD: World Cup Women – Play Offs betting tips on match 2023-08-07 11:00.
After the two nations met in the semi-finals of the men’s edition in December, France and Morocco go head-to-head again, this time in the last 16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC). Les Bleues are no stranger to this stage as they now go in search of a fourth successive appearance at the quarter-finals, and they’re hitting form at the right time after rattling in six goals to see off Panama in their final group game.
That was the fourth time in ten matches in 2023 that France have scored 3+ goals, and a run of just one defeat from 11 matches (W8, D2) outlines why markets had only placed England and Spain above them in the running to win the tournament after the USA’s elimination. A last 16 meeting with the lowest-ranked remaining nation (Morocco: #72) certainly helps that cause, as does Les Bleues’ 100% win record against African opposition (W10) that includes a 6-0 H2H thumping back in 2008.
Morocco are unlikely to be fazed by the outstanding quality of their opponents, especially after they recovered from a 6-0 defeat to Germany in their opening group match to progress to the knockout stages in their WWC debut. Boss Reynald Pedros, a former French international in his playing career, was “extremely proud” of his team’s recovery, setting up arguably the biggest match in the history of the women’s national team.
Knockout football is something they’ll be used to after their run to the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, but European opposition standing in their way is unlikely to inspire confidence given Morocco’s poor record against UEFA sides (W4, D3, L7). Keeping it tight at the back could be key, as it’s been 12 games since both sides on the day scored in a Moroccan women’s international.
Key battle: Kaddiatou Diani netted a hat-trick in the 6-3 win over Panama, and her name on the scoresheet normally guarantees plenty of entertainment, with her goalscoring appearances for France averaging 5.8 goals per game. Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Errmichi could therefore be kept busy then as she goes in search of a third consecutive international clean sheet for the first time in her career.
Hot stat: Even despite conceding six against Germany, Morocco’s last ten games have produced just 17 total goals.