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Horse Racing Morocco vs Portugal Bet Builder Tips: Ramos to Impress Again in 2.00 Builder
Morocco vs Portugal Bet Builder Tips: Sunday, December 10th
Morocco vs Portugal bet builder tips are on the agenda today as an unbeaten African nation faces a rampant European side in a winner-takes-all meeting in Al-Thumama. Will Cristiano get the nod against Morocco? Or will Ramos and company keep their spots and continue an assault on the final four positions in Qatar? It promises to be an intriguing clash.
In this article:
Morocco vs Portugal Preview
World Cup Quarter-Final, Saturday, December 10th, 15:00 (UK)
Who would have thought we would be at the quarter-final stage with Morocco and Portugal vying for a position in the final four? Furthermore, who in their wildest dreams would have anticipated that Morocco would find themselves in the last eight without an opposition player scoring against them in four games?
Of course, we can’t ignore Nayef Aguerd’s own goal against Canada in a 2-1 victory, but even still, one goal conceded in four matches is impressive. And when you consider the standard of opposition where clean sheets have reared their head – Belgium, Croatia, and Spain – that’s something the African nation can be extraordinarily proud of. Not only are they the fourth country from their continent to appear at this stage of the tournament, but their debut showing has been built on excellent performances.
There is robustness, a desire to win the ball out of possession and a swift transition forward when they do – three facets of Morocco’s play that makes them hard to beat for any opposition. As Spain found out in the round of 16.
Continuing the Iberian theme, Portugal are the next opponents for the side from North Africa. Representing Europe and doing so in style against Switzerland, Fernando Santos’ men stand neck and neck with England for most goals scored (12) in the tournament. Half of them came against the Swiss. It was a performance from Gonçalo Ramos that will go down in history for all the right reasons. Ramos stole the headlines in the round of 16 as Cristiano Ronaldo took his space on the bench. Ramos became the first player to score a hat-trick on his first start in the World Cup since Miroslav Klose in 2002.
Regardless of the petulant attitude on show from Portugal’s biggest name, that screams of a fully-loaded, capable squad at the business end of the pitch. Add two-goal Rafael Leão into the mix, who has warmed the bench for the majority of Portugal’s time in Qatar, and it’s a frontline to rival the World Cup’s best nations. Os Navegadores have only scored more than 12 at a World Cup once (17), which came in 1966. This time out, the 12 have been shared by eight different players – a new Portuguese record.
Morocco vs Portugal Stats & Facts
- Before Morocco, only three African nations had made it to the last eight of a World Cup – Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), and Ghana (2010).
- The last time a player scored a hat-trick in the knockout stages before Gonçalo Ramos? Tomáš Skuhravý in Italia 1990.
- Bruno Fernandes’ three assists at Qatar 2022 are the joint-most of any Portuguese player at a World Cup.
- Morocco’s five-game unbeaten stretch at the World Cup is their longest-ever run without defeat in history.
Morocco vs Portugal Bet Builder
The Morocco match-up will be only Portugal’s third quarter-final at a World Cup. They progressed from the previous two. The win over England in 2006 was their last successful escapade in the quarters, a team they may yet face in the semi-final if lady luck endows either camp.
Where do we head from a betting perspective? As you’ll know, form and confidence play an enormous part. So, Gonçalo Ramos’ hat-trick and performance to boot shouldn’t be overlooked for me. Not only did he find the net three times against Switzerland but his hold-up play, the efficiency at linking attack and midfield, and the fact he should’ve had another goal or two will stand him in good stead moving forward.
Will Santos start him up top for Portugal? He has to. Whether Cristiano Ronaldo is shoehorned into a team that plundered five goals without him is a different question, although he’d be nowhere near my starting eleven. If Ramos starts in the same position, expect him to be searching for the target.
The six shots he had against Switzerland are no fluke. In Portugal this season, Ramos is averaging 4.06 shots per90. That’s more than enough to get him onboard for the first section of the bet builder.
Next up, it’s a Double Chance pick of Draw or a Portugal win. Although Morocco have faced impressive opposition, none has promised a similar attack to Portugal. It’s challenging to see a 90-minute period where Portugal fail to find the net. If they don’t score and we’re treated to another 0-0 like we saw against Spain, the Double Chance covers that too.
If you’re keen to get Portugal on side, there’s a 2.80 offering to get the Portuguese on the nose and Over 2.5 Ramos shots. Not bad.
- Gonçalo Ramos O2.5 Shots
- Portugal or Draw
Bet Builder odds: 2.00
Odds via bet365 as at 13:00 on December 8th, 2022. Odds may now differ.
