Morocco vs Portugal Prediction & Tips
This World Cup gave us the most goals in the last 16 since the round was reintroduced in 1986, but after a 0-0 draw with Spain, Morocco advanced thanks to a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory. After becoming only the fourth team from Africa and the first Arab nation to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup, Morocco meet Portugal, a team they lost 1-0 to in the group stage four years ago.
Walid Regragui, the first African coach to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after beating highly regarded Spanish coach Luis Enrique, is unlikely to shy away from this new showdown, given that his team conceded just one goal in the tournament. FIFA recently declared that “Moroccan football is beginning to reap the rewards of the Federation’s good work” and it seems the sky is the limit for the Atlas Lions, who will now attempt to become the continent’s first ever World Cup semi-finalist.
The Moroccans will, however, face a Portugal team in fine form, having secured an emphatic 6-1 win over Switzerland in the last 16, only the second time they have scored 6+ goals at a major tournament! One important detail of the win was that coach Fernando Santos left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, a decision fully justified by the fact that his replacement, 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos, scored a hat-trick in his first World Cup match!
The young striker is the first player to achieve this feat on his competitive debut since Miroslav Klose in 2002, playing a vital role in the Seleção’s first World Cup knockout win in 16 years. At home, confidence is at an all-time high, especially with Portugal led by Santos, who already has hero status after winning the trophy with the Portuguese national team at the European Championship in 2016.
Key Duel: After an NFL-style celebration following Morocco’s penalty shootout win over Spain, Achraf Hakimi will be looking for another surprise win in this match. The right-back has the most dispossessions (11) at this tournament so far, but will be up against Portugal hero Ramos, who was just three years old when Ronaldo scored for the first time at a major international tournament, but has already scored more goals for Portugal in the World Cup knockout stages than the Portuguese star.
Interesting stat: Morocco have conceded just one goal in their last eight matches (6-2-0)!
World Cup trivia: The 0-0 draw with Spain before Morocco’s eventual win on penalties was their seventh at this World Cup, equalling an all-time record in this competition.
Morocco – Portugal FREE TIPS
Morocco – Win @ 5.50
