Grab your poutine, Canada, because Thursday’s World Cup quarter-final in Boston carries extra sting for us. Morocco eliminated co-hosts Canada 3-0 in the last 16 with just four shots on target. Though overwhelmed in the first half, Morocco survived the storm, then Azzedine Ounahi’s brace and Soufiane Rahimi’s goal sealed the win. Ruthless and efficient. Now the Atlas Lions block France’s path to the semifinals. This rematch began at the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal in Qatar, where France won 2-0. Morocco seeks revenge for that defeat. The Atlas Lions are unbeaten in 10 matches since the AFCON final and smell an upset. France, meanwhile, remains unbeaten in 12 competitive matches and has won seven straight. If they win an eighth, they become the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup semifinals. Kylian Mbappé leads France with seven goals this tournament, matching Lionel Messi’s record of scoring seven or more in two separate World Cups. A penalty against Paraguay in the round of 16 was enough for France to grind past a stubborn opponent. Morocco faces a major hurdle: striker Ismael Saibari is a doubt due to a hamstring injury after coming off early against Canada, blunting their attack. Bookmakers heavily favor France. Morocco is listed as a sizeable underdog, with the draw far behind. Betting markets expect a lower-scoring game, with the total set near 2.5 goals. Based on recent trends, a 1-0 or 2-0 France win looks smart. Thirteen of France’s last 16 wins came by two-plus goal margins, while seven of Morocco’s last nine World Cup defeats came by a single goal. France will control tempo, Morocco will defend deep, and Mbappé will likely find the key. Yet Morocco is built to spoil favorites. Just ask Canada. | Statistic | France | Morocco |
|———–|——–|———|
| Recent Form | Unbeaten in 12 competitive matches | Unbeaten in 10 matches since AFCON |
| Goals This Tournament | 7 (Mbappé) | 3 (vs Canada) |
| Last World Cup Meeting | 2-0 win (2022 semifinal) | Seeking revenge |
| Injury Concern | None major | Ismael Saibari (hamstring) |
| Betting Outlook | Heavy favorite | Sizeable underdog | Prediction: France 2, Morocco 0. But don’t be shocked if the Atlas Lions force penalties and break more hearts.
