Morocco vs. Spain: Top Storylines, Odds, Live Stream for World Cup 2022
Spain did not play up to the remarkably high standard it has set for itself across men’s international soccer over the last decade after it's first group game, the 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica.
La Roja took second in Group E at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a spot that usually comes with a tougher round-of-16 matchup.
Morocco is not the toughest opponent on paper compared to the other group winners.
The African side surprised many fans and critics by topping Group F ahead of Croatia, Belgium and Canada.
Morocco played some tremendous defensive soccer to claim two clean sheets against Croatia and Belgium.
The Moroccans will have to be tough in defense once again on Tuesday to deal with Spain’s possession-based style of play.
Spain will dominate the run of play and how Morocco deals with that will decide whether the game is played out in La Roja’s favor, or if it goes to extra time and/or penalties.
Odds and Match Info
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
90-Minute Money Line
Morocco (+550; bet $100 to win $550)
Spain (-170; bet $170 win $100)
Draw (+285)
To Advance To Next Round
Morocco (+280)
Spain (-360)
Match Info
Date; Tuesday, December 6
Start Time: 10 a.m. ET
TV: Fox
Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app
Spain Expected to Dictate Match Flow
Spain will run the show from the first kick of the ball inside the Education City Stadium
Luis Enrique’s side has a clear identity to pass opponents to death and strike on goal when little windows open up.
Álvaro Morata capitalized on those chances in the group stage with three goals in three games.
Spain leads the World Cup with 75.7 percent possession and 2,540 pass receptions.
Those numbers are well above Argentina, who is in second place in each category with 65 percent and 2453 passes respectively. Argentina has played an extra game than Spain as well.
When Spain is at its best, it can score goals in bunches, like it did seven times against Costa Rica in its group opener.
Germany and Japan were more sound defensively and limited Spain’s options to pick apart the back line with a ton of chances.
The goal for Spain will be to pick apart Morocco and score multiple goals early, so that it does not end up in the same situation as it did against Japan, where it conceded twice in first ten minutes of the second half.
Morocco is dangerous on the counter with Youssef En-Nesyri and Hakim Ziyech. They could undo Spain if they are wasteful with their possession.
Morocco Needs Another Strong Defensive Outing
Morocco had the joint best defense in the group stage, alongside five other teams who had conceded just one goal, and that unit should give it hope to spring an upset over Spain.
The Atlas Lions played Croatia to a scoreless draw and held Belgium to a clean sheet to land on top of Group F.
The only group-stage concession from the African side was on an own goal against Canada, when a cross deflected off Nayef Aguerd.
The African side needs to be even tougher at the back on Tuesday to deal with the demands of Spain’s possession-based system.
Morocco needs to be strong in the back and efficient with its chances in front of the net.
The underdogs in the round of 16 so far, notably the United States, missed out on golden opportunities and paid for them.
En-Nesyri and Ziyech must be clinical with the chances they get to put together a complete performance and turn in the most shocking result of the knockout round so far.
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