World Cup Quarter-Final preview: Morocco v Portugal

Morocco will face Portugal in one of the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, December 10th

Head to head

The teams have met twice before, both those matches coming in previous World Cups.

In 1986, when the tournament was staged in Mexico, Morocco won their group game in Zapopan 3 – 1.

Portugal gained belated revenge for that defeat four years ago in Russia, also at the group stage, defeating the North Africans by a single goal from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Embed from Getty Images

Morocco

Morocco have the chance to make history on Saturday by becoming the first African team in history to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup (by making the last eight they have joined an elite club of just three other teams).

And their progress has been built on a rock-solid defence. They had one of the best records in the world in their qualifying campaign, and, since they have been in Qatar, they have conceded just once, funnily, that was an own-goal.

The game plan is simple. Keep it tight at the back and compact in midfield and look at hit teams on the break, a tactic they employed to perfection in their defeat of Belgium, who began the tournament as the second-ranked team in the world.

It also helped them frustrate Spain for long stretches of their Round of 16 game, where Spain had most of the ball but didn’t have many clear-cut chances.

And when it came to the penalty kicks, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero. He saved three of the Spanish kicks, which helped him out.

Portugal

Portugal may just have stumbled on the secret for World Cup success – drop Cristiano Ronaldo. Although they won their qualifying group courtesy of opening victories against Ghana and Uruguay, they had not been fluent and seemed constrained by having to play to the strengths of the 37-year-old.

But after he was left on the bench for their knock-out game against Switzerland and 21 year old Gonçalo Ramos handed his first international start instead, the team appeared liberated, freed of the shackles of carrying the superstar.

Ramos hit a hat-trick and his team scored six – becoming only the second team in the 21^st century to score six or more goals in a World Cup knock-out game. There can be no question of who starts against Morocco.

Prediction

This will be a contrast in styles and Portugal can expect to have most of the ball. The key will be what they do with it. Spain were unable to break down the Africans because they lacked a real target man, but Ramos may just fit the bill, although he is inexperienced at this level.

However, with the likes of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Joāo Felix, they have the ability to unlock the Moroccan defence.

Morocco’s best opportunities are likely to come on the counter attack, so they need to be clinical in front of goal when chances come along.

Portugal will start favourites because of their superior attacking flair, but it is likely to be a close match.