France vs. Morocco: Top Storylines, Odds, Live Stream for World Cup 2022
The first African side to make the FIFA World Cup semifinals is the only thing standing in front of France from becoming a repeat finalist.
France passed its toughest test of the tournament to date in the quarterfinals against England
Kylian Mbappé and Les Bleus will try to do something four other European nations have not been able to do against Morocco, and that is score.
Morocco held Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal without a goal. The Atlas Lions' only concession came on an own goal against Canada.
Morocco has been exceptional on defense, but now it has to contain what might be the best all-around attack in men's international soccer.
France produced five goals in two knockout-round games, and most of its squad carries experience from the title run in Russia four years ago.
The French are seeking to become the first reigning champions to reach the final since Brazil in 1998.
Morocco will try to make history once again as the first African finalist in World Cup history.
Odds and Match Info
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
90-Minute Moneyline
France (-185; bet $185 to win $100)
Morocco (+600; bet $100 to win $600)
To Advance To Final
France -425
Morocco +320
Match Info
Date: Wednesday, December 14
Start Time: 2 pm ET
TV: Fox
Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports ap
France In Search of World Cup Final Return
France is looking to achieve something that the last five men's World Cup winners failed to do.
Les Bleus are trying to reach consecutive finals, and they are heavily favored to do so.
France's first team has not experienced many difficulties in Qatar.
France produced multiple goals against Australia and Denmark in the group stage and then against Poland and England in the knockout round. Tunisia beat France to close out Group D, but France did not use its starters until around the 60th minute of the 1-0 loss.
Les Bleus have found ways to deal with the challenges because each member of their attacking quartet stepped up in some capacity.
Kylian Mbappé is the Golden Boot leader with five goals. Olivier Giroud is second to Mbappé with four. Ousmane Dembélé has been dynamic on the right wing, and Antoine Griezmann contributed two assists in the quarterfinal round.
Each attacking player can create something out of nothing, and that's what makes them so dangerous, even against the best defense in the World Cup.
France is expected to control the contest. That should lead to plenty of chances. France created 28 shots on target in five games.
As we saw with Aurélien Tchouaméni in the quarterfinals, the deeper-lying French players can be difference-makers with shots from outside the box.
Morocco will try to make life difficult for France, but it's hard to imagine the French attack being held scoreless for 90 minutes.
France does need to clean up its defense. It does not have a clean sheet yet in Qatar, but that is not much of a worry if the attack continues to churn out goals at a high rate.
Morocco Looking for Another Upset
Morocco would have been happy to leave Qatar as Group F winners, but it has achieved far more than many could have imagined.
The Atlas Lions used a tremendous defense and a few moments of brilliance in attack to take results off four European nations and Canada in Qatar.
Morocco frustrated Spain and Portugal in the round of 16 and quarterfinals.
The African side forced both Spain and Portugal to be wasteful with their chances in the final third. Spain put one of 13 shots on target. Portugal put three of 12 attempts on net.
Morocco is fine with losing the possession battle in order to absorb the attacks in and around the penalty area from opponents.
The Atlas Lions have been effective with their own shots. They scored five goals on 13 shots on target in Qatar. They scored with both shots on goal against Canada and on one of their three shots on goal vs. Portugal.
Morocco is so effective because it defends so well and can strike in an instant to put an opponent in a tough spot.
However, Morocco has not faced an attack in the form and with the depth that France possesses.
That is the concern for Morocco. If it conceded early, it may not be able to get in a track meet with France because the French show no let-up in the final third.
A win would be the unlikeliest result yet for Morocco, but the team should channel belief from its five results already earned in Qatar.
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