Whereas the media for many groups remaining on the World Cup is targeted on what’s going to position on the pitch, issues are totally different for Portugal, the place everyone seems to be speaking about whether or not or not Cristiano Ronaldo will — or ought to — play in opposition to Morocco on Saturday morning.
The reply to each of these questions is probably going no primarily based on what we noticed within the Spherical of 16, when the Ronaldo-less Portugal thrashed Switzerland, 6-1, on the power of a hat-trick from Goncalo Ramos, the person who took Ronaldo’s spot within the beginning XI.
With or with out their mercurial celebrity, Portugal is a giant favourite to advance previous the event’s Cinderella, Morocco. The sport is ready to start out at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday morning on FOX.
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Morocco vs. Portugal prediction
Earlier than the event, there have been loads of professional inquiries to ask of Portugal. The expertise was clearly there with Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, and Bernardo Silva. Nonetheless, the Portuguese all the time appears to be a step off beneath Fernando Santos, who was identified to be too conservative as a supervisor for a workforce with this a lot star energy.
Slightly than leaning into the attacking expertise at his disposal, Santos’ Portugal would typically play with the coaching wheels on and have been referred to as out for attempting to not lose fairly than to win.
However this event has been a bit totally different for Santos’ facet. Portugal has performed three high-event matches, together with the aforementioned pasting of Switzerland, earlier this week.
That sort of offense will seemingly be onerous to return by in opposition to Morocco, who's recent off upsetting Spain in penalty kicks after holding La Furia Roja goalless by means of 120 minutes. It was one other excellent defensive show from the Atlas Lions, who've solely given up one purpose in 4 matches, and that got here by way of an personal purpose.
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And it’s not like Morocco has performed a straightforward schedule, both. The Atlas Lions pitched shutouts in opposition to Belgium, Croatia, and Spain, holding every of these European powers to 1.0 anticipated purpose or much less. It is a robust workforce to unlock.
Morocco’s defensive prowess and talent to strike shortly on the counter or on set items by means of Hakim Ziyech are what makes them such harmful underdogs. The North Africans have turn into specialists at turning matchups into coin flips. They need to have each probability of doing that in opposition to a Portuguese facet that's most likely being overvalued after their terrific victory in opposition to Switzerland.
This Cinderella Story will not be over simply but.
Morocco vs. Portugal decide
Morocco to advance (+270, FanDuel)
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