Defending champions France will be looking to go one step closer to retaining their title on Wednesday evening when they face a high-flying Morocco side in the second semi-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco became the first ever African side to reach this stage of the tournament by beating Portugal on Saturday afternoon, whilst France narrowly crept past England that evening.
France vs Morocco Predictions and Odds
France Current Run of Form
Last five matches – W/W/L/W/W
France booked their place in the semi-finals by beating a strong England side at the Al Bayt Stadium in what was undoubtedly one of the games of the tournament so far. Strikes from Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud as well as a Harry Kane missed penalty were enough to see Les Bleus into the last four, despite the Three Lions being the better side on the night. France’s star-man Kylian Mbappe is the tournament’s top scorer thus far netting five goals, just one more than fellow countryman Giroud . The reigning champions are a strong outfit but are certainly beatable with their group stage loss to Tunisia showing just that. It will take a lot to stop France from retaining the trophy next weekend and Didier Deschamps’ men will undoubtedly be confident in doing so.
1 – France are the first reigning champion to reach the World Cup semi-finals since Brazil in 1998. Samba. #ENGFRA pic.twitter.com/hOxxRK50dw
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 10, 2022
Morocco Current Run of Form
Last five matches – D/W/W/W/W
Morocco achieved history on Saturday afternoon as they became the first ever African nation to progress to the semi-final stage of the competition. Youssef En Nesyri’s towering first-half header was enough to see the Atlas Lions into the final four as they beat Portugal 1-0 at the Al Thumama Stadium. Morocco are one of two sides who remain unbeaten in the competition (alongside Croatia), with Walid Regragui’s side only failing to win against fellow semi-finalists Croatia when they drew in the first round of the group matches. However, the semi-finals bring Morocco their greatest challenge of the competition so far as they face tournament favourites France for the chance to be in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. France are strong favourites to reach their second consecutive World Cup final, but as the previous two rounds have taught us, Morocco should not be written off.
1 – Morocco are the first African team to qualify for the semi-final of a World Cup tournament – each of the previous three African sides to reach a quarter-final were all eliminated at this stage (Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010). Magical. pic.twitter.com/7rq8Yrn04L
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2022
Head to Head
France 2-2 Morocco – 11/16/2007
Morocco 1-5 France – 6/6/2000
France 1-0 Morocco – 1/20/1999
The two sides have met seven times before in recorded history with Les Bleus winning on five occasions and the remaining two being draws. The most recent meeting was for an international friendly in 2007 when Youssef Mokhtari’s 85th minute strike was enough to earn Morocco a draw at the Stade de France. However, this match match will be the first time that these sides have met at the FIFA World Cup and Morocco will be looking to keep up their tournament upset spree by dumping the reigning champions out of the competition.
Prediction – France 3-1 Morocco
Morocco have very much been the giant-killers of the tournament so far, beating Portugal, Spain and Belgium on their way to this point. However, France are a far greater test than any of the previous mentioned and Morocco will have to deliver the perfect performance to have any chance of beating Deschamps’ side. It is certainly a possibility but there is no doubt that France are strong favourites to progress to the final.
Current Odds: France vs Morocco
France win – 1/2
Draw – 3/1
Morocco win – 6/1
