FIFA World Cup
World Cup 2018: Portugal vs Morocco Preview
Match-day 2 of Group B sees Portugal vs Morocco in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium at 8 AM ET. The North Africans will be desperate for a win after their surprising loss to Iran a week earlier. A win for the Portuguese will see Cristiano Ronaldo and his team looking good to progress to the knockout rounds as they will be heavy favorites in their final group match vs Iran.
Background
Portugal enters this match fully motivated after their exciting draw with Spain and Ronaldo’s historic hat-trick. Most expert predictions will not predict them as a potential tournament winner, with names like Argentina, Germany, and Spain making that list. However, Ronaldo’s brilliant performance reminded everyone that they are European champions and demand to be taken seriously. The current Ballon d’Or holder led his countrymen to the Euro final in 2016 and will believe he can achieve a similar feat again.
Morocco painfully lost to Iran due to an own goal in the final minutes of their opening match. They know that they are outmatched in quality versus Fernando Santo’s men but will be eager to bounce back strong. ‘The Atlas Lions’ qualified for the finals without conceding a single goal and now find themselves at the bottom of the group only because of an own goal. With players in their squad such as Real Madrid’s Achraf Hakimi, head coach Hervé Renard will be confident of stopping the European’s attacking flow.
Predicted Lineups
Portugal: Rui Patricio; Guerreiro, Fonte, Pepe, Cedric; Moutinho, Carvalho, B. Silva, Mario; Guedes, Ronaldo
Morocco: Munir; Hakimi, Saiss, Benatia, S. Amrabat; El Ahmadi, Boussoufa, Belhanda, Harit, Ziyech; El Khaabi
Prediction
Morocco defeated Portugal 3-1 in the only previous meeting between these two nations marking Portugal’s only loss to African opposition so far. However, that was 1986 and the Iberians have not lost to any non-European opposition since 2002. Expect Portugal to control the match and due mostly to a disciplined Moroccan defense, a conservative scoreline.
Portugal 1 – 0 Morocco
