[Curiosities] Predictions: Can Morocco Make History, Beat Portugal in The World Cup?

[The GodFather]

 

 

Rabat - Even though Portugal are favorites to win against Morocco’s national football team in the Qatar World Cup’s quarter-finals on Saturday, hopes are high among Moroccan fans for the Atlas Lions to take the lead.

After all, this has been the case since the beginning of the global tournament, as the Atlas Lions managed to defy all odds and beat some of the World Cup’s most popular teams.

While predictions suggested that Morocco would not make it past the tournament’s group stage, the North African squad managed to lead Group F and send pre-match favorites Belgium and Canada back home.

Moroccan coach Walid Regragui and his men defeated 2-0 Belgium, which is FIFA’s second-best team in the world, and Canada 2-1. Meanwhile, Morocco’s game against 2018 World Cup runner-up Croatia ended with a goalless draw.

Read also: Spain Sacks Coach Luis Enrique After World Cup Loss Against Morocco

In addition, the Moroccan team clinched a historic win against Spain in the tournament’s round of 16 on Tuesday. The game ended with a 0-0 deadlock but Morocco booked their first-ever ticket to the quarter-finals through penalty kicks 3-0.

Fans across Africa and the Arab World are rooting for Morocco, as their only remaining representative in Qatar, hoping they can keep up the great performance and beat Portugal, which have proven to be a tough rival.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s squad topped group H with six points and qualified for the round of 16 where they overwhelmed Switzerland winning 6-1. 

Predictions

Opta Analyst indicated that Portugal were “firm favourites” to beat Morocco, with a 55.8% chance of advancing to the semi-finals by full-time, whereas predictions state the North African team has an 18.8% chance of winning.

Meanwhile, there is a 25.4% possibility of the match ending with a draw, indicated Opta Analyst, noting that the Atlas Lions have a “good opportunity of at least forcing extra-time, which did not work out too badly for them last time.”

Sofascore uncovered that more than 57% of voters predicted that Portugal would win, while 31.2% voted in favor of Morocco. The possibility of the game ending with a draw, which would then lead to penalty shoot-outs, stands at around 11%.

Similarly, sports news outlet 90min predicted that Portugal would defeat 2-1 Morocco.

With the Atlas Lions enjoying the support of football fans from across the globe, the Moroccan squad seems to be determined to achieve another milestone as the Portugal test awaits.

 

 

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/12/352903/predictions-can-morocco-make-history-beat-portugal-in-the-world-cup