Although they have played well in Russia, this will be Morocco’s last match at this World Cup. Morocco was in good form against both Iran and Portugal, but lost to both of those teams and are subsequently four points outside of qualification in Group B. Yet they can still play spoiler. If they somehow find a way to beat Spain by multiple goals in their finale, they would keep La Roja out of the knockout rounds if Iran picks up a result against Portugal. It’s very unlikely, but Morocco has been much better than its two losses might indicate.
The most anticipated sporting event in the world comes around once every four years, so don’t miss any of the 2018 World Cup. This match will take place at Volgograd Arena in Volgograd at 2 p.m. ET on Monday, June 25, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FS1.
World Cup Group Stage Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Spain -263
Morocco +783
Draw +389
Over/Under 2.5
Recent Form
Spain have not looked unbeatable. Although they are tied with Portugal at the top of Group B, the 2010 World Cup champions have had some struggles. They played the match of the tournament to this point in their opener, drawing 3-3 with their Iberian Peninsula rivals. Diego Costa was brilliant in the match, playing the part of the tough, physical striker to perfection, and ended with a brace. However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick, which was aided by a bit of a blunder from David de Gea, was enough to make this one a draw.
Costa came up big again in the match against Iran. He was a little fortunate to score, but his goal was Spain’s lone tally in a 1-0 victory. Costa was in a threatening position and an Iranian defender tried to poke the ball away from him, but instead it deflected off of Costa and into the net. An Iranian goal was perhaps incorrectly ruled offsides, and Spain escaped with a win.
Morocco is going to think about what could have been at the World Cup. In their match against Iran, they dominated possession and had more chances than their counterparts. They were disappointed when it seemed like they would settle for a scoreless draw, but then disaster struck when Aziz Bouhaddouz accidentally headed a ball into the back of his net a minute before the referee blew the final whistle.
Against Portugal, Ronaldo dashed their hopes early with a goal in the fourth minute. Morocco was able to battle back and ended up nearly finding the equalizer numerous times, but it was all for not.
Player to Watch
De Gea is someone to keep an eye on in this match. Some considered him the best goalkeeper in the world coming into the World Cup with Manuel Neuer a big question mark due to injury. De Gea won the Premier League Golden Glove this season and looked like he was ready to lead Spain to glory at this World Cup.
His World Cup got off to a rocky start though. He botched a somewhat routine save against Portugal, giving Ronaldo his second goal of the match. The error led many to question whether or not interim manager Fernando Hierro would replace him in net. Hierro stuck with his star and De Gea rewarded his faith with a fantastic performance against Iran.
Matchup to Watch
Spain may have a hard time breaking down Morocco’s defense. You could make the argument that Morocco have the second-best defense in the group, only behind La Roja. They were fantastic in qualifying, and both Achraf Hakimi and Medhi Benatia have represented themselves well in Russia.
There is a lot of talent in the attack for Spain though. Costa is one of the frontrunners for the Golden Boot with three goals in two matches, and Isco has looked very good as well. They will use their tiki taka style to try to break down Morocco at the back.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I’m going to go against the grain here. It’s hard to see Morocco picking up the win, but with the way they have played so far, they are overdue for a result. There is value in the draw based on how Morocco have performed, and Spain wouldn’t be too concerned with a tie given that would ensure a spot in the knockout rounds.
World Cup Group Stage Odds: Spain 1, Morocco 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
