France vs. Morocco Odds & Prediction: Who is Favored in World Cup Quarterfinal?

 

France vs. Morocco odds: Who is favored in World Cup quarterfinal?

Les Bleus are heavy favorites to advance past the Atlas Lions in a rematch of the 2022 semifinal

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The stage is set for a captivating World Cup quarterfinal clash as defending runners-up France prepare to face a resurgent Morocco side on Thursday at Gillette Stadium. The matchup is a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, which France won 2-0 en route to a second consecutive final appearance.

This time, however, the stakes are equally high, and the betting markets have made their stance clear: France is the heavy favorite to advance to the semifinals for a third straight World Cup.

France enters as commanding favorite

According to the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, France sits at -175 on the 90-minute money line, meaning bettors would need to risk $175 to win $100. Morocco is the significant underdog at +550, while a draw after regulation is priced at +280.

The odds to advance tell a similar story, with France listed at -400 and Morocco at +300. Les Bleus have won all five of their matches at this tournament, scoring 14 goals while conceding just two.

Why the oddsmakers favor Les Bleus

France's dominant form throughout the tournament has justified their favorite status. Kylian Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race with seven goals and has scored in every knockout game. The attack is further bolstered by Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola, a front four that has produced 14 goals in six games.

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Defensively, France has been equally impressive. They have not conceded more than once in any game and have kept clean sheets in three of their five matches. The expected return of Aurelien Tchouameni from injury would further solidify a backline anchored by William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano.

The Opta supercomputer gives France a 61.7% chance of winning in regulation time, with Morocco's upset probability at just 16.2%.

Morocco's case for an upset

Morocco arrives at this quarterfinal with their own impressive credentials. They are unbeaten in their last five matches and drew with Brazil while defeating the Netherlands during this tournament run. The Atlas Lions have shown resilience and defensive organization, making them difficult opponents even for top teams.

However, they face a significant setback with star striker Ismael Saibari ruled out due to a thigh injury sustained against Canada. Soufiane Rahimi is expected to lead the line in his absence.

"We tend to start cautiously, playing defensively and playing deep, but when needed, we can launch powerful attacks," the Atlas Lions have demonstrated throughout the tournament.

Best bets and score predictions

Analysts are favoring a controlled French victory. The best bet identified by many experts is France to win to nil at +150, based on France's defensive record and Morocco's attacking limitations without Saibari.

Under 2.5 goals at -114 is also viewed favorably, as Morocco is expected to defend deep and limit chances, likely resulting in a 2-0 or 1-0 scoreline.

Kylian Mbappe anytime goalscorer at +100 represents value, as the French captain is their penalty taker and primary attacking threat.

The consensus score prediction: France 2-0 Morocco.

A matter of history and pride

France holds a historical advantage over Morocco with four wins in six previous meetings. Their only prior World Cup encounter came in that 2022 semifinal. Should France advance, they would become only the third nation after Brazil and Germany to reach three consecutive World Cup semifinals.

For Morocco, this represents a chance for revenge and a shot at history of their own. The Atlas Lions have already captivated the football world with their run, and a victory would be their greatest achievement yet.

With kickoff set for 4 p.m. ET, the world will be watching to see whether France's star power or Morocco's resilient spirit prevails.