France vs. Morocco Semifinals Picks, Predictions, Odds
The 2022 World Cup semifinals will conclude on Wednesday as current tournament favorite France will try to end the surprising run of Morocco, who is playing with house money. Morocco has never made it to the Top 4 of the World Cup and regardless of what happens, this team has already reached legendary status as the first African country to reach this stage.
Meanwhile, the French team were the third betting choice (+600) to win the 2022 World Cup and they have lived up to expectations as the 2018 World Cup defending champions. The offense has scored two-plus goals in all four of its wins and many pundits believe they still haven't clicked on all cylinders just yet.
Will France get a shot at a World Cup repeat or will Morocco keep 'parking the bus' and somehow advance again?
Let's break down the match!
France vs. Morocco Picks & Score Predictions
The second semifinal of the 2022 World Cup sees the holders France face off against surprise package Morocco. The North African side is the success story of this World Cup. Few expected them to qualify from the group stage and even fewer backed them to get past both Spain and Portugal to reach the semis.
They now face a France side fresh off of beating England 2-1 in the quarterfinals last weekend. Les Bleus are aiming to become the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. First they have to get past a remarkable Moroccan defense. Not since Italy in 1990 has a side conceded so few goals on their way to a World Cup semifinal.
The Italians didn’t concede a single goal at that tournament until the semis where they were eliminated by Argentina. Morocco will be hoping for a different outcome here but it will be tough. Surely, this Moroccan defensive unit can’t keep this up much longer.
Noussair Mazraoui and Romain Saiss are both doubts for this match but could yet feature. They’re part of a defensive unit that has made more tackles, blocks, clearances and interceptions than any other at the World Cup. It’s no easy feat but I feel that this will be one step too far for Morocco. If Les Bleus can grab the opening goal, expect Morocco to collapse to a 2-1 or 3-1 defeat.
Score Predictions:
France 2 Morocco 1 (+900)
France 3 Morocco 1 (+1600)
France vs. Morocco Best Bets
The goals line seems a bit low to me in this match and a lot of that is down to the fact that Morocco have only conceded nine shots on target in five games at this World Cup. But France don’t need much. They only had five against England and scored twice.
Over two French goals looks good at -120. Personally, I’d be going over 2.5 goals at +275 as well.
Game Best Bets:
France vs. Morocco Odds
France -188
Morocco +650
Draw +280
Over 2.5 (+150)
Under 2.5 (-188)
To qualify/advance:
France -400
Morocco +300
France are the obvious favorites here. It’s -188 for Les Bleus to win this match in 90 minutes and -400 for them to qualify for the final.
Morocco are out at +300 to qualify and become the first African side to contest a World Cup final. It’s +650 for them to get it done and win in 90 minutes and +280 for a draw.
France vs. Morocco Special Odds
Both Teams to Score: Yes (+125) No (-175)
Game Decided in Extra Time: Yes (+700) No (-1200)
Game Decided After Penalties: Yes (+550) No (-900)
Corners: Over 9 (+120) Under 9 (+100)
Number of Cards: Over 3.5 (-150) Under 3.5 (+110)
A Penalty in the Match: Yes (+175) No (-250)
A Red Card in the Match: Yes (+450) No (-700)
Own Goal: Yes (+1200) No (-2500)
France vs. Morocco Betting Stats
World Cup Record
France (4-0-1)
Morocco (3-2-0)
World Cup Form
France 4 Australia 1 (Favorite -400)
France 2 Denmark 1 (Favorite -134)
Tunisia 1 France 0 (Underdog +800)
France 3 Poland 1 (Favorite -300)
France 2 England 1 (Favorite +170)
Morocco 0 Croatia 0 (Draw +225)
Morocco 2 Belgium 0 (Underdog +275)
Morocco 2 Canada 1 (Favorite -110)
Spain 0 Morocco 0 (Draw +350) -- Morocco wins on PKs (3-0)
Morocco 1 Portugal 0 (Underdog +475)
France Betting Outlook and Players to Watch
France’s strength at this tournament has obviously come from their wide forwards.
Kylian Mbappe was quiet against England - forcibly so with some savvy defensive work from the Three Lions. He’ll want to give more here but comes up against a tough competitor in Achraf Hakimi down Morocco’s right. He’ll rely on Theo Hernandez to overlap and overload his PSG teammate. He’s at +125 to score any time which looks good.
Ousmane Dembele has been quiet down France’s right flank but I think they key man for Les Bleus in this match is Antoine Griezmann. Now playing in a deeper role, the onus will be on the Atletico Madrid to combine with teammates and complete the unenviable task of finding space against this organized Moroccan defence.
He’ll pop up everywhere across the attacking lines and play riskier passes - something that Spain and Portugal failed to do against Morocco. With Kylian Mbappe in for another tough match, Griezmann looks a great bet to win man of the match at +400.
Player Best Bets:
Kylian Mbappe - Anytime Goal Scorer +125
Antoine Griezmann - Man of the Match +400
Morocco Betting Outlook and Players to Watch
It’s impossible to speak about Morocco without discussing this defensive unit.
Romain Saiss is the key man at the back and surely Morocco’s hopes rest on him featuring from the off here. They’ll also hope that Noussair Mazraoui is able to start after missing out against Portugal.
Achraf Hakimi is in for a brutal match against club teammate Kylian Mbappe. The Moroccan full-back is just as quick as his PSG teammate but the overload may force a mistake. Hakimi to get booked in 90 minutes looks good at +225.
At the other end, hope will rest on forward Youssef En-Nesyri to repeat his heroics against Portugal. That goal gave Morocco something to hold onto and further frustrated the Portuguese. There will definitely be opportunities to score against this French defense that has conceded in every match so far. En-Nesyri to get one at any time looks good at +550.
Morocco Player Best Bets
Achraf Hakimi - Yes to Get Booked (+225)
Youssef En-Nesyri - Anytime Goal Scorer +550
France vs. Morocco Betting Resources
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022
Matchup: Semifinals
Stadium: Al Bayt Stadium
Location: Al Khor, Qatar
TV-Time: FOX, 2:00p.m. ET
Be sure to follow Dan Jenkins on Twitter at DanJenkins at @DanJenkins_BE
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