Morocco vs Portugal prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for World Cup 2022 quarterfinal :: Win Morocco 1 : 0 Portugal

Portugal vs Morocco history: Have World Cup quarterfinalists ever met before? Last time Atlas Lions faced Portugal

Morocco have already clinched their place in World Cup history in Qatar as Walid Regragui's side beat Spain on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the Round of 16.

Victory over the 2010 winners sealed a first ever quarterfinal spot for the Atlas Lions, as the fourth African nation to reach the World Cup last eight.

Their success has set up a quarterfinal showdown against Portugal, as Regragui meets Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. for a second successive World Cup.

Morocco can create another chapter of history, if they become the first African side to reach the semifinals, but a determined Portugal stand in their way.

As the fourth African nation to reach the World Cup last eight.

First African country to reach World Cup semifinals: Morocco make history for CAF at Qatar 2022:

African teams have developed into a powerful World Cup force since 1990, with changes in the qualification process offering a greater chance to showcase their talents on the game's biggest stage.

The restructuring of routes to the competition, and the tournament itself from 1986, have boosted the chances of African nations progressing, with major strides completed in recent years.

From Egypt's appearance at the 1938 World Cup in Italy, to Cameroon's memorable quarterfinal run at Italia '90, and on to impressive recent performances from Senegal and Ghana, perceptions are changing regarding African nations.

And thanks to Morocco, history has been made. The Atlas Lions have become the first-ever team from the continent to reach the semifinals of a World Cup.

The Atlas Lions have been the undoubted surprise package of Qatar 2022. They came through a tricky group that included No.2-ranked side in the world Belgium and 2018 runners-up Croatia.

Then, after 120 minutes of action where no goals where scored against Spain in the Round of 16, Morocco saved their best until the knockout stages, as Spain missed all three penalties to send the African side into the quarterfinals against Portugal.

And now the spotlight belongs to them, after they won 1-0 to eliminate Cristiano Ronaldo and book an historic place in the last four of Qatar 2022.

MORE: Who is Morocco coach Walid Regragui?

Has an African team made it to a World Cup semifinal before?
A semifinal place had continued to evade African nations at the World Cup until now, with Ghana's spot-kick loss to Uruguay in 2010 the closest they had come before.

Previous best African performances at World Cup
Country Stage Reached Eliminated By Year
Cameroon Quarterfinal England 1990
Senegal Quarterfinal Turkey 2002
Ghana Quarterfinal Uruguay 2010

Morocco's route to World Cup 2022 semifinals:

Morocco's campaign got underway with a 0-0 draw against Croatia before they went on to record a stunning 2-0 win over No.2-ranked side Belgium.

That put them firmly in the driving seat to reach the knockout stages. A 2-1 victory over Canada in their final game meant they qualified as winners of Group F to set up a Round of 16 meeting with Spain.

Few had Morocco down as likely to progress any further but after a draining 120 minutes of action where both sides had chances to win it, the game headed to penalties.

Goalkeeper Yassine 'Bono' Bounou became the hero as he saved two of Spain's penalties before Achraf Hakimi scored the decisive spot-kick with a 'Panenka'.

Morocco faced Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the quarterfinals after his side thrashed Switzerland 6-1, and Youssef En-Nesyri's 42nd-minute goal proved the difference.

African teams in World Cup quarterfinals
Morocco's run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals is their first knockout-stage appearance since becoming the first African nation to do so back in 1986.

Cameroon famously reached the quarterfinals in 1990, with Senegal and Ghana matching the feat in 2002 and 2010.

Cameroon (1990)
Cameroon took Italia '90 by storm as the Indomitable Lions topped Group B after beating defending champions Argentina in their opening game.

Veteran striker Roger Milla followed up his two group-stage goals — as he became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history — with an extra-time brace in their Round of 16 win over Colombia.

Despite missing key players through suspension and injury in the last eight, Cameroon produced an iconic performance to take England to extra time in Naples, before Gary Lineker's penalty eventually ended their World Cup journey.

The victory had all the key ingredients of a major shock, with defending champions France's fall from grace, coupled with Senegal's debut on the World Cup stage, and they eventually made it out of Group A, after draws with Denmark and Uruguay.

Bruno Metsu's side rode the wave into the Round of 16, as Henri Camara's 'Golden Goal' saw them beat Sweden 2-1, before they bowed out to Turkey in the last eight.

MORE: How many Morocco players were born in other countries?

Ghana (2010)
Asamoah Gyan's two penalties secured four group-stage points for Ghana, against Serbia and Australia, as the World Cup was hosted by an African nation for the first time in South Africa.

Despite losing their final group game to Germany, the Black Stars squeezed into the Round of 16 on goal difference, to face the USA.

Gyan was again the hero, as his extra-time goal sealed a 2-1 win, and set up a date with Uruguay in the quarterfinals.

Their meeting in Johannesburg has gone on to become one of the most controversial World Cup matches in recent memory.

Luis Suarez's deliberate handball saw him sent off in extra time, but in a bizarre twist, Gyan crashed the resulting spot-kick off the crossbar, as Ghana missed a golden opportunity to reach the semifinals.

Portugal vs Morocco history:

Meetings between the two sides have been few and far between with just two previous meetings in the 1986 and 2018 World Cups.

Morocco's first ever knockout stage appearance in 1986 included a 3-1 group stage win over Portugal before the Atlas Lions bowed out in the Round of 16 against West Germany.

Portugal waited 32 years to secure revenge, as Ronaldo's early goal sealed a 1-0 group stage win in Russia four years ago.

Date Competition Result Goalscorers
June 11, 1986 World Cup Portugal 1-3 Morocco Khairi (2), Merry; Diamantino
June 20, 2018 World Cup Portugal 1-0 Morocco Ronaldo
Portugal vs Morocco last game
After securing a thrilling 3-3 draw in their opening game of the 2018 World Cup, Portugal needed a positive result in their second match against Morocco in Saint Petersburg.

Morocco vs Portugal prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for World Cup 2022 quarterfinal:

Portugal appeared to usher in the next generation against Switzerland last time out, and now they'll hope lightning can strike twice when they take on Morocco in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup.

The 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos bagged a Round of 16 hat-trick in place of 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal starting lineup, announcing himself to the world while the aging superstar watched from the bench.

That sent Portugal on their way to a 6-1 thrashing and a spot in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Morocco sprung a stunning upset of Spain, managing to hold on for a 0-0 draw and winning on penalties after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made two stops in the shootout and Pablo Sarabia had hit the post.

Spain were devoid of ideas on how to break down Morocco, who looked the more likely side to score on multiple occasions.

The Atlas Lions will be hoping to become the first African nation to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, but one of the tournament's most in-form teams stands in their way.

MORE: How to watch Morocco vs Portugal in World Cup 2022 quarterfinal

Morocco vs Portugal betting odds
Portugal are heavily fancied in this match after tearing Switzerland to shreds in their last game, while Morocco hung on against an uninspired Spain.

There is some confusion from bookmakers over whether this match will feature goals or not. The under is a slight favorite, pushing the over into plus odds territory in some places, but it's still not nearly as lopsided as we've seen across this tournament.

Odds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Ladbrokes (Australia).

BetMGM  Sports

Interaction SkyBet Ladbrokes
Morocco win +425 5.21 9/2 4/1
Draw +270 3.51 14/5 13/5
Portugal win -150 1.66 8/13 8/11
Both teams
to score Y / N +105 / -145 1.95 / 1.67 1/1, 8/11 20/23, 5/6
Over / Under
2.5 goals +105 / -145 2.05 / 1.69 1/1, 8/11 20/21, 4/5
Portugal -0.5 -165 1.66 — —
Morocco +0.5 +115 2.14 — —
Portugal advance -350 1.31 2/7 1/3
Morocco advance +220 3.16 5/2 2/1
Note: Odds above for 90 minutes of regulation time, except 'to advance'.

Morocco vs Portugal: 3 things to know
Morocco vs Portugal team news
Morocco are walking wounded after expending significant energy against Spain. The critical duo of Sofiane Boufal and Nayef Aguerd were both substituted off against La Roja due to injuries. Boufal especially would be a huge loss, as he's been one of the best midfielders at the World Cup.

The absence of Amine Harit, who was ruled out before the tournament, has clearly affected Morocco's goalscoring threat.

There are no fresh injury concerns coming into this match for Portugal. They are without Diogo Jota, who was ruled out pre-tournament, and Nuno Mendes who will take no further part in the World Cup after an injury in the Uruguay match.

The biggest question is to the fitness of Danilo, who is hoping to recover from broken ribs in time to see the field. And whether Ronaldo plays given he was benched by coach Fernando Santos against the Swiss.

MORE: Full injury tracker for all 32 teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Morocco vs Portugal key stats
This is the third meeting between these two nations, with all matches coming at the World Cup. Morocco beat Portugal 3-1 in 1986 to knock the European nation out in the group stage. Portugal got revenge in 2018, hanging on to a fourth-minute Ronaldo goal to win 1-0.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most goals in World Cup history (8) without scoring a single knockout-stage goal.
With his trio against Switzerland, Goncalo Ramos became the youngest player to score a World Cup hat-trick in a knockout stage match since Pele in 1958.
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi has completed 11 tackles in 17 attempts, leading all players at the World Cup in both categories.
Morocco vs Portugal match facts

Date: Saturday, December 10
Kickoff Time: 10:00 am ET / 3:00 pm GMT / 2:00 am AEDT (Sun, Dec. 11)
Location: Al Thumama Stadium
Official: Facundo Tello (Argentina)
Morocco vs Portugal prediction
Moneyline lean: Portugal (-150)
Against the spread lean: Portugal -0.5 (-165)
Score prediction: Portugal 3 Morocco 0
While Morocco managed to hold a toothless Spain side down for the entirety of their Round of 16 match, they expended an exhausting amount of energy doing so.

Portugal have proven they can break down bunkered sides, bagging a pair of goals against Uruguay and beating up on a defensive-minded Switzerland.

Once Portugal get their opener and Morocco have to come out of their shell, this match will turn into a track meet, and that will suit the European side.

Morocco vs Portugal: best bet
Pick: Over 2.5 goals
Odds: +105 (BetMGM)
At this World Cup, taking both overs and both teams to score has been a risky proposition. Teams have been extra cagey at this tournament, and chances have gone begging up and down the field.

Portugal are the exception. The over has hit in three of their four matches, as has both teams to score. They run opponents into the ground and have been sensational at both creating and finishing chances. Especially if Morocco are without injured duo Boufal and Aguerd, this could be another team ripe for a trouncing at the hands of Portugal.

Morocco vs Portugal prop bet
Pick: To score in both halves — Portugal only
Odds: +210 (BetMGM)
While on the whole, this tournament has been all about reaching halftime without conceding, Portugal go for it right from the start. They have only failed to register 0.5 xG in the first half once so far, against Uruguay in the group stage, while they have scored first-half goals in each of their last two games.

Portugal will want a fast start to bring Morocco out of their shell, lest they fall into the same trap Spain did as the game drags on.

Morocco vs Portugal flier bet
Pick: Goncalo Ramos to win the World Cup Golden Boot
Odds: +2500 (BetMGM)
From a value standpoint, the tournament could not be more perfectly set up for Goncalo Ramos to shock the world and help Portugal charge to the title while winning the top goalscorer award.

Ramos, now on three goals, has a great opportunity to add to his total against an exhausted and wounded Morocco side, while current leader Kylian Mbappe has to worry about a defensively stout England. From there, should both sides advance, Ramos could get the opportunity to knock Mbappe out of the tournament himself in the semifinals.

On the other side of the bracket, Lionel Messi and his three-goal haul would potentially run into Richarlison and Brazil in the semifinals, where only one could advance.

That game, if it plays out, figures to be a gritty, low-scoring battle typical of the two hated South American rivals.

Clearly, there's a lot of work to do here, but at 25/1 odds, Ramos is spectacular value to pull off a stunner and finish as the tournament's Golden Boot winner, despite barely seeing the field in the group stage.

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