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Mixed martial arts France vs Morocco Bet Builder Tips: 3.75 Builder for Wednesday’s Semi-Final
France vs Morocco Bet Builder Tips: Wednesday, December 14th
For one of the final times in the 2022 World Cup, we’ve got France vs Morocco bet builder tips for you to ponder here at bettingexpert in a historic semi-final.
In this article:
France vs Morocco Preview
World Cup Semi-Final, Wednesday, December 14th, 19:00 (UK)
Morocco’s journey in the latter stages tells a tale of injuries to crucial squad members, not being handed a crumb of a chance against some of Europe’s best, proving supremely dangerous on the counter, and exceeding expectations every single time. Well, now, the Atlas Lions face the reigning World Cup champions.
Yet, history may be on the side of the North Africans. No team has made consecutive World Cup finals since Brazil in 1998, whilst no nation has lifted back-to-back World Cup spoils since the Brazilians in 1958 and 1962.
With Morocco as the only African side to make the semi-final of a World Cup, could the first-ever African final appearance be on the cards? Something has to give. Luckily for the neutral, we’ll either see history made for the proudest of continents or another herculean effort in a nation conjuring enough to reach two World Cup finals on the bounce. Either way, the end result is going to be pretty special.
And it’ll be roared on in droves by the somewhat home advantage in Morocco’s favour. A sea of red has donned Morocco’s path through the knockout stages so far, and we should expect the same with the likely spluttering of blue across the grandstands.
As is always the way in major tournaments, injuries often have squads in a vice-like grip. Fortunately for France, their squad depth is so great that they could field two competing sides in Qatar, both with a chance of reaching the final four. Injuries to Karim Benzema, Christopher Nkunku, Paul Pogba, Lucas Hernandez, and Presnel Kimpembe would have been enough to halt most other countries, but not the French.
In the Moroccan dressing room, Roman Saiss, Naif Aguerd, and Noussair Mazraoui are all doubts across the backline. Of course, that is a huge concern, but they have capable options. For example, look how Yahia Attiyat Allah came in and performed excellently in place of Bayern Munich left-back, Mazraoui in the quarter-final. Morocco can have a chance if that can be replicated across the defensive line for their showdown with France. But that’s a big if.
France vs Morocco Stats & Facts
- No opposition player has scored against Morocco at this World Cup. The one goal conceded came as an Own Goal.
- France are playing in their seventh World Cup semi-final.
- No African side has ever reached the semi-final of the World Cup. Morocco’s current run is history in action.
France vs Morocco Bet Builder
It feels like Déjà Vu for me – covering a big Moroccan World Cup clash for bettingexpert, and, once again, keen to oppose the Africans in some way. Last time out, it was to my detriment.
Morocco overcame Portugal’s wealth of attacking talent without too much fuss and booked this match into our diaries to make up half of the World Cup’s final four. At severe jeopardy of coming unstuck by Morocco for the second time, Les Bleus is where the betting focus will lie for the bet builder.
Considering the injuries to key players, most notably Romain Saiss with the captain’s armband, I feel France may have just enough, in the end, to get this done within 90 minutes. However, at 1.53 for the win, 1X2 markets are something I’ll be swerving.
Instead, let’s start with Olivier Giroud. The AC Milan striker has taken the reigns from Karim Benzema in his usual understated fashion. There will have been many turning their noses up at a 36-year-old Giroud leading France’s attack in Qatar, but here he is, with four goals (3.12xG) in four games.
I anticipate that Morocco will play similarly to how they’ve handled themselves all tournament. Why wouldn’t they? Compact, presenting as a tight defensive unit with Sogyan Amrabat sitting just in front of the back line, and willing and able to sniff out any opportunities in transition and on the counter with their dangerous attacking outlets in Ziyech and Boufal.
With that in mind, there shouldn’t be space in behind for Mbappé or Dembélé to exploit. Instead, France will need to grind Morocco down. In my mind, set pieces are a massive opportunity for France, as is the battle on either flank when the wingers are in possession. Granted, we’re not expecting vacated areas in behind, but both wide men will be tasked to beat their man with the help of any overlapping midfielders and full-backs. As a result, the width of this French team will likely find some joy and, in turn, should threaten the byline to hit crosses into a ravenous Olivier Giroud.
Continuing that train of thought, a byproduct of such an approach may come in the shape of corners. Not only will the French be targeting either flank, but they also may end up reverting to shots outside of the box as Morocco sits in and attempts to soak up pressure. That’s not necessarily the worst thing in the world, as Aurélien Tchouaméni found out following his sumptuous long-range effort against the English. Again, something else that will encourage corners is efforts from outside the box that may inadvertently take a nick off a defender on the way through.
We could get lucky at 3.75 for three picks that should go hand in hand.
- Olivier Giroud 2+ Shots on Target
- Over 1.5 First Half Corners
- Over 1.5 Second Half Corners
Bet Builder odds: 3.75
Odds via bet365 as at 21:00 December 12th, 2022. Odds may now differ.
