France vs Morocco prediction, odds, betting tips, and best bets for World Cup 2022 semi-final

The defending champions against the underdog challenger, an authentic David vs Goliath meeting as France, the 2018 title holders, take on Morocco, the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Les Bleus overcame a tough challenge from England thanks to a late missed penalty from Harry Kane, but they will have a very different challenge on their hands next.

Morocco sports a patchwork squad beset by injuries, but the Atlas Lions have come together to sport exceptional and surprising depth. They are driven by near-home advantage, as their fans have flocked to Qatar to create an impressive atmosphere.

Will France move to the escarpment of a World Cup double, or will Morocco graduate from history-maker to true title competitor?

Odds for France vs Morocco

Once again, Morocco faces great odds of losing. That hasn't fazed them up to this point, as Morocco has been at least 3/1 underdogs on every positive result they've achieved so far.

They have also been highly defensive, and therefore the odds suggest they will have a hard time finding the back of the net, but that didn't stop them from slapping Portugal on the counter-attack. For all their offensive firepower, France can still not overwhelm Morocco's defense organization, making the low very favorable.

Odds via BetMGM (US), Sports interchange (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Ladbrokes (Australia)

 BetMGM Sports

SkyBet Ladbrokes Interaction

France won -190 1.51 1/2 8/15

Draw +290 3.75 3/1 11/4

Morocco won +600 6.60 6/1 13/2

Both teams

to score Y/N +135/-190 2.29/1.48 5/4, 4/7 27/20, 8/15

Below

2.5 goals +120 / -165 2.21 / 1.62 6/5, 8/13 5/4, 3/5

France -0.5 -210 1.52 — —

Morocco +0.5 +145 2.49 — —

France advances -450 1.24 1/5 2/9

Morocco goes +310 3.65 10/3 3/1

France vs Morocco: 3 things you should know

Team news France vs Morocco

injury news

The pre-tournament absences of Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Mike Maignan, Christopher Nkunuk, Presnel Kimpembe, and Karim Benzema have yet to prove to be as significant as previously believed. Olivier Giroud replaced Benzema as the top scorer with aplomb. In contrast, Theo Hernández returned his brother Lucas Hernández as left-back long after the latter's ACL tear in the opening group game.

Morocco has several problems on the injury front. Most worrisome is captain Romain Saiss, who was reportedly injured in the Portugal game and had to be stretchered off in the second half. Noussair Mazraoui and Naif Aguero missed the Portugal match due to their injuries. However, Morocco's strength has been in its surprising depth. Yahia Attiyat Allah filled the enormous shoes of Mazraoui's absence while Badr Banoune replaced Saiss and held the line.

Missing players for France vs Morocco due to disciplinary sanction

Nation Player Suspended Card Type 2

France NONE — —

Morocco Walid Cheddira Red Card (YC x2)

Key stats from France vs Morocco

Antoine Griezmann has generated the most chances (17) of any player at the 2022 World Cup and has the highest anticipated assists (2.94 xA). The next closest player on the list of regular assists is Jamal Musiala, at 1.86.

Achraf Hakimi has strived for the most tackles (19) of any player at the World Cup and has the second most successful tackles (15). His colleague, Noussair Mazraoui, has 13 tackles and eight made, which places him sixth and seventh, individually.

No team has reached consecutive World Cup finals since Brazil in 1994 and 1998, while no group has been repeated as World Cup champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. No straight World Cup finals in history. He has had paired with two teams.

Match data France vs Morocco

Date: Wednesday, December 14

Start time: 2:00 p.m. m. ET / 7:00 p.m. m. GMT / 6:00 a.m. m. AEDT (Thursday, December 15)

Location: Al Bayt Stadium

Official: César Ramos (Mexico)

Betting tip France vs Morocco

Lean money line: France (-185)

Against the skinny margin: France -0.5 (-200)

Score Prediction: France 1-0 Morocco

It will be brutally difficult for France to topple Morocco, that's for sure.

Despite many of us doubting Morocco's ability to keep Portugal off the board, the African nation just shut out their European foes for the full 90 minutes despite a series of injuries to key players. Therefore, we no longer doubt the performance capacity of this almost local team.

It will take a Herculean effort to overcome Morocco's organization and structure, but this is not a green team that France owns. While Portugal and Spain fielded young and inexperienced teams against Morocco, who struggled to adapt in a pressure situation, France will know precisely how to attack their opponents.

At the risk of doubting Morocco for the third time, it's hard to imagine the Atlas Lions advancing to the World Cup final. An early goal will be essential for France here, as the longer, they go without scoring, the more panic will set in, and Morocco will grow in confidence.

France vs Morocco: Best Bet

Pick: Half with more goals: 2H

Odds: +100 (BetMGM)

This bet keeps improving as the World Cup progresses, yet the odds remain the same throughout. France, especially, has been a second-half scoring team, as every game except the first against Australia has featured more second-half goals. More recently, we saw France tear through the first half against England, conceding long periods of harmless possession.

Morocco veered slightly into the first half as they defended ferociously after the break, but they have also benefited from opposing teams failing to capitalize on chances. They have conceded just around 2.20 xG in both halves, but the opponents have finished at a sub-1.0 xGOT rate in both.

This should be a much more stimulating game after the break.

Prop Bet France vs Morocco

Selection: score band: 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0

Odds: +140 (BetMGM)

Choice: score band: 2-1, 3-1, or 4-1

Odds: +400 (BetMGM)

So far, Morocco has done sensationally to expose other teams' weaknesses, particularly in the mental aspect of the game. Atlas Lions are spectacular at crushing their opponent until nothing, but frustration remains.

France is a different breed. Les Bleus have taken blows from Australia, Denmark, Tunisia, and England, only to bounce back from each one in that match or the next. This team from France always rises.

We are taking separate (not combo) bets for this prop bets on two different bands of three correct scores. This covers our knowledge that Morocco can score against a team like France that plays an open-attacking style of football. Portugal does the same, and Youssef En-Nesyri made a reward. Still, France should 

realize a strategy through Morocco and come out on top. This pair of bets will only win if France fails to win in 90 minutes or concede more than once to Morocco. Either would represent a colossal surprise.

Flying bet France vs Morocco

Forecast: Kylian Mbappe will score a goal assisted by Antoine Griezmann

Odds: +700 (FanDuel)

Kylian Mbappé is the best player in the world at the moment, and Antoine Griezmann has been the best chance creator in the World Cup. You don't have to overthink this. But if you desire more, here you go.

Since going the entire Euro 2020 tournament without scoring, Mbappe has yet to go back-to-back international appearances without scoring. He scored 16 goals in those 16 games, including multiple goals on four occasions, two of which came at this World Cup. They failed to score against England, with Aurelien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud doing the damage.

Meanwhile, Griezmann is serving up goals on a tray this World Cup. He has the most chances created (17), while his tournament-leading 2.83 assists expected is more than one xA complete higher than anyone else. Of Mbappe's five goals so far, he's had an assist from Griezmann, and at odds of 7/1, you better believe there's value in this duo striking again.