Portugal vs Morocco
10 December 2022
BCA Prediction: Full time draw
Morocco has been the surprise performer in Qatar, but Saturday’s match against Portugal will present a whole different kind of challenge for their incredible World Cup run.
The Selecao defeated Switzerland 6-1 in their own round of 16-match, putting forth possibly the finest collective effort thus far at the World Cup. With that victory and their performance on display, Fernando Santos’ team positioned themselves as genuine contenders. In total, they have netted 23 goals in their last ten competitive contests, giving them 12 goals in their first four World Cup games.
Morocco has had great defensive success in Qatar, conceding just one goal in four games while holding clean sheets against Croatia, Belgium, and then Spain. Morocco did give up a lot of possession against Spain, but it would be inaccurate to say they were lucky. They might adopt a similar strategy against Portugal. Even though Walid Regragui’s team only had 23% of the ball against the Spaniards, their strategy has paid off, as the only goal they have given up since Regragui’s appointment is an own goal against Canada.
Portugal was brutal in defeating Switzerland, and if they play to the same level against Morocco, they should win easily. This game will put the Moroccans’ physical and mental stamina to the test because they played Spain to the end. We can rely on them to defend well, but once the pressure of playing against Spain for 120 minutes begins to wear on them, Portugal’s talent will emerge. Goncalo Ramos, who scored three goals, Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes, and even the luxury of having Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench are all very talented players for the Portuguese.
Key Takeaways:
- In their round of 16-match, Portugal defeated Switzerland 6-1, with Goncalo Ramos scoring a hat trick.
- In four games, Portugal has scored 12 goals, while Morocco has given up only one.
- Morocco had only 23% possession of the ball in their triumph over Spain in the round of 16
France vs. England
10 December 2022
BCA Prediction: France win
In the World Cup’s round of 16, Senegal was easily defeated by England on Sunday, setting up an exciting quarterfinal matchup with France. After defeating Iran 6-2, Gareth Southgate’s team put on a lacklustre performance against the USA. Before defeating Senegal, they defeated Wales by a score of 3-0, although the match against the Lions of Teranga showed some concerning indicators. Early in the match, Senegal had a few opportunities and some success against England’s defense. A more effective assault may have achieved success. France may have the advantage in this matchup, given that England struggled against their top European neighbors in 2022 and lost to both Germany (D2) and Italy (D1, L1) in the Nations League.
Only two teams—Italy and Brazil—have successfully defended the World Cup, with Brazil doing it most recently in 1962. However, the current France team might be able to join that select club. Before losing to Tunisia, Les Bleus had rather easily won their first two group-stage games. Then, in their matchup in the round of 16, France defeated Poland 3-1; the Poles scored a late goal from the penalty spot as a consolation. At the World Cup, Kylian Mbappe has displayed incredible talent, and veteran Olivier Giroud has been contributing goals as well.
England has scored 12 goals in its four games, with the exception of the USA, while France has given up goals in each of their matches thus far. Southgate’s team should give the French their toughest test of the tournament so far. Mbappe, however, has the air of a man on a mission. The PSG attacker has scored five goals in three games, and a goal on Saturday would increase his chances of taking home the Golden Boot. Some consider him the best football player right now, and his blistering pace will be too much for England’s John Stones and Harry Maguire, who aren’t exactly quick on their feet. He almost convinced us to choose France with our double chance pick because of his presence on the French team.
Key Takeaways:
- In their last group match, France, who has won three of their four games in Qatar, was able to rest some crucial players.
- Kylian Mbappe of France has scored five goals in three starts.
- In the 2022 Nations League, England struggled to defeat Germany (two draws) and Italy (one loss, one tie).
FIFA World Cup 2022
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, and this will be the first time the event will be hosted by a Middle Eastern country. Qatar 2022 is set to have a massive geographical impact on the region for the first since the tournament’s inception in 1930.
The World Cup is a unique event in many aspects, bringing about various opportunities, especially for football enthusiasts, and with it comes many betting markets. The competition among the 32 qualified national teams will be very fierce; hence you need a guide and insight on which teams or players to stake on.