A huge game for both sides here as Scotland look to carry their momentum from a 1-0 win over Haiti and Morocco search for their first three points after a good 1-1 draw against Brazil. The stats, facts, and best betting tips are all coming up.
Atlas Lions to Roar to a Tight Win
Morocco has all the trump cards here in terms of a much higher FIFA ranking, better World Cup pedigree, more high-quality players and even a positive head-to-head record after the only match between these two ended 3-0, although admittedly that was almost 30 years ago!
So Morocco should get the win they need here, but it could be tight and tense in the blazing sun, so it’s not out of the question that a single Morocco goal could settle it. 2-0 is possible, and a Scotland goal in a 2-1 defeat isn’t out of the question, so a Mexico win with under 3.5 goals in it covers all those possibilities.
- Key Stat: Morocco has scored in 16 of their last 17 games, averaging 1.7 goals a game.
- Best Bet: Morocco win with under 3.5 goals
- Odds: 2.2 (at the time of writing)
Scotland
Scots were made to work very hard for that 1-0 win over Haiti, and the neutral would probably have argued that the draw would have been a fair result.
But win they did, and those three points give them a decent chance of making the next stage, even if it’s by finishing as one of the best third-placed teams. That said, three points may not do it, and up against Brazil in their third match, they’ll be eyeing a draw here and the point that comes with it, as a very positive result.
They look well-organised and, as explained in our weekly World Cup round-up, have developed some interesting methods of adapting to the hot conditions.
- Player to watch: Scott McTominay- 4.0 to be shown a card / 5.5 to score a goal
Morocco
The Atlas Lions reminded us all why they’re ranked 6th in the FIFA world rankings – ahead of the likes of Portugal, Germany and Belgium – with a deserved 1-1 draw against Brazil, in which they actually went ahead.
Such a performance was no surprise for a side that made the World Cup semis last time out and also won the AFCON this year, albeit in controversial circumstances. With hot conditions suiting them and with both pace and skilful players upfront, they’re going to be hard to beat.
- Player to watch: Brahim Diaz – 3.3 to score anytime / 1.83 to be fouled 3 or more times.
Did you know?
When Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 at the last World Cup, they became the first African team in history to make it to the last four of football’s biggest tournament.
And Portugal weren’t even the only top side they beat, as they also got the better of Spain on penalties in the Last 16. In the end, France were too good for them with a comfortable 2-0 win in the semis to stop them in their tracks, but it was a remarkable run they went on.
Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana had all made the quarters before as African nations, but never the semis.
