France vs Morocco Predictions
France and Morocco could be set for a tense World Cup quarter-final on Thursday.
Les Bleus have the greater attacking quality, but Morocco have impressed, and remain unbeaten in the past year.
Under 2.5 goals looks likely, while I also fancy this tie to go the distance.
Morocco Backed to Frustrate France
- France conceded an average of 0.75 goals per game in their last 8 matches
- Morocco are unbeaten in their last 34 matches
- Morocco have seen under 2.5 goals in 4 of their last 6 matches
- Morocco conceded an average of 0.62 goals per game in their last 8 matches
France Boast Strong H2H Record
France and Morocco meet in a rematch of their 2022 World Cup semi-final. Les Bleus won that contest 2-0 in Qatar, ending Morocco’s historic run to the final four.
The AFCON champions have failed to beat France in six previous meetings, but the Atlas Lions have avoided defeat in two of the last four encounters.
France March On
World Cup favourites France booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win in a bad-tempered contest against Paraguay.
Didier Deschamps’ side needed a 70th-minute Kylian Mbappe penalty to eventually book their place in Thursday’s controversial quarter-final clash.
France were worthy winners, overcoming an aggressive Paraguay side that offered little in creativity or attacking quality. Remarkably, the South Americans avoided picking up a single card despite committing 13 fouls.
Les Bleus had been more fluent earlier in the tournament, beating Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0, and Norway 4-1 to finish top of Group I.
Deschamps' men had little trouble in taking care of Sweden with a dominant 3-0 win in the round of 32 before their gritty win against Paraguay.
The two-time world champions have now won ten of their last 11 games, including each of five World Cup fixtures this summer.
Morocco See-Off Canada
Morocco make the trip to Gillette Stadium after extending their unbeaten World Cup run with an impressive round of sixteen win against Canada.
After struggling to impose themselves in the opening period, the Atlas Lions' quality eventually shone through for a somewhat flattering 3-0 win at NRG Stadium.
Azzedine Ounahi bagged twice before Soufiane Rahimi added a third deep in stoppage time.
The Moroccans were much improved in the second period, having registered an xG of just 0.02 in the first half. Mohamed Ouahbi’s side scored three goals in the second 45 minutes from an xG of 0.8.
The tough-to-beat AFCON champions have not tasted defeat in any of their last 31 matches. Defensively strong, the Atlas Lions kept clean sheets at three of five games in this World Cup, while they have conceded just seven goals in their last 15 internationals.
France vs Morocco Expected Lineups and Team News
France: (4-2-3-1) Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe
France are expected to be without Aurelien Tchouameni, who has been struggling with a thigh injury. Manu Kone is likely to continue in midfield.
Head coach Deschamps is expected to name the same side that overcame the Paraguayans.
Deschamps insisted he is not concerned by the appointment of Argentinian officials to oversee Thursday’s clash, with a repeat of the 2022 final against Argentina still possible.
“We have to deal with it,” he said. “I trust the referees. Our opponent is Morocco, not the referee.”
Morocco: (4-2-3-1) Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Andy Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui; Neil El Aynaoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi; Brahim Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss; Soufiane Rahimi
Morocco are expected to be without Ismael Saibari after he was forced off against Canada with a hamstring issue.
Soufiane Rahimi is likely to lead the attack, while Brahim Diaz and Bilal El Khannouss will provide creative support.
Speaking to the media earlier this week, head coach Ouahbi reflected on Morocco’s improved second-half display against Canada.
“Of course, we played a very intense first half,” he said.
“We had to sort out some small things in the second half - what we tried to do during the hydration break was important, and it is clear that from that point on, we were very much under control.
“In terms of the intensity, they were good, and that has to be said, but they were good for the whole 98 minutes.