2022 World Cup expert picks, odds for France vs. Morocco semifinal

Morocco has already taken out the Iberian Peninsula at this World Cup. Now, the African nation faces an opponent a bit further north in Europe. France continues its quest to win a second straight World Cup.

The French are massive favorites to advance and are also the favorites among the four semifinalists to win the tournament.

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France vs. Morocco

Kickoff time: Wednesday 2 p.m. ET/7 p.m. GMT

Venue: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

How they got here:

France

• 4-1 W vs. Australia
• 2-1 W vs. Denmark
• 0-1 L vs. Tunisia
• 3-1 W vs. Poland (Round of 16)
• 2-1 W vs. England (quarterfinal)

Morocco

• 0-0 D vs. Croatia
• 2-0 W vs. Belgium
• 2-1 W vs. Canada
• 0-0 D (3-0 W on penalties) vs. Spain (Round of 16)
• 1-0 W vs. Portugal (quarterfinal)

All odds are from BetMGM. Click here for live odds.

It’s hard to get more of a David vs. Goliath matchup in a semifinal than this. France won the last World Cup and has arguably the most talented team on the planet. Morocco is the first African team to make a World Cup semifinal.

That’s not to say Morocco hasn’t played well in this tournament. The Atlas Lions have been particularly stout on the defensive side. Morocco has given up just one goal in five matches (which was an own goal against Canada) and has been dangerous on the counter sometimes.

Morocco’s defensive performances against Spain and Portugal were incredibly impressive, but France’s attack is next level. Kylian Mbappe was quiet against England, but the French attack has plenty more options. Olivier Giroud came up big against England, and there’s also Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann.

On the flip side, France has not been as convincing at the back. Les Bleus don’t have a clean sheet yet and gave England every opportunity to stay in Saturday’s quarterfinal.

These two teams are completely different, but they have been nothing if not consistent this tournament. France has given up one goal in all five of its matches at this World Cup and has scored more than one in the four matches it started with its first-choice lineup. The French rested starters in a 1-0 loss to Tunisia. Morocco has been the same defensively solid team that doesn’t have the ball much but occasionally creates fast sweeping counters.

Morocco left-back Noussair Mazraoui and center-back Nayef Aguerd missed the Portugal match, but Morocco’s defense still held strong. Mazraoui is a big part of the team’s counterattacking ability though, so those injuries will be watched leading up to Wednesday’s match. Forward Walid Cheddira will miss the match after getting a red card (two yellows in second-half stoppage time) in the quarterfinal. Cheddira has only made two appearances off the bench at this World Cup.

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The last defending champion to make a semifinal (or final for that matter) was Brazil in 1998. That Brazil team lost to the host French in the final in 1998. France is seeking its fourth appearance in a World Cup final.

Expert Picks

More from the 2022 World Cup

‘We are the Rocky of this World Cup’ – can Morocco actually win it?

France 2-1 England: Olivier Giroud sends holders to semi-finals as Harry Kane misses late penalty

Morocco 1-0 Portugal: En-Nesyri’s leap, Africa in the semi-finals, Ronaldo says goodbye

Antoine Griezmann – France’s lesser-sung hero

Boufal, Bono and Hakimi’s ‘bad’ penalties – stories of Morocco’s unlikely heroes

(Photo of Olivier Giroud and Adrien Rabiot: Catherine Ivill / Getty Images)

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