Morocco are looking to make history as they take on Portugal in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup on Saturday.
The African side are looking to become the first team from their continent to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup and will back themselves to cause another shock after they knocked out Spain in the last-16 on penalties.
Portugal thrived without star captain Cristiano Ronaldo with Goncalo Ramos scoring the first hat-trick of the tournament in a 6-1 win against Switzerland last time out.
The winner of this clash will play the victor of Saturday’s second quarter-final between England and France on Wednesday.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of this quarter-final clash.
When is Morocco vs Portugal?
The game is scheduled to kick off at 3pm GMT (6pm local time) on Saturday 10 December.
The quarter-final will take place at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.
How can I watch it?
In the UK, the match will air live on ITV 1, and it will stream live on the broadcaster’s new ITVX app and website, formerly known as ITV Hub.
Team news
Morocco boss Walid Regragui has got his country to this stage by being consistent with his line-up, so Selim Amallah should continue ahead of Abdelhamid Sabiri in midfield. Other than that, no injury concerns were reported after the penalty shoot-out win against Spain, though the matter of fatigue could force Regragui’s hand.
Unsurprisingly, the big selection call for Portugal boss Fernando Santos is whether he once again leaves out captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Judging by the sensational hat-trick display by his replacement Goncalo Ramos against Switzerland, the 195-cap star could miss out once more. Similarly, will he leave out Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves, and opt for Raphael Guerreiro and William Carvalho respectively once more? Defender Danilo Pereira is a doubt, while Otavio came through the Swiss clash unscathed.
Sofyan Amrabat was outstanding for Morocco against Spain
(PA Wire)
Predicted line-ups
Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Amallah, Ounahi; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
Portugal XI: Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Neves, Otavio; Silva, Fernandes, Felix; Ramos
Odds
Morocco – 9/2
Portugal – 4/6
Draw (after 90 minutes only) – 27/10
Prediction
Not as simple a call as it is on paper, given Morocco’s stirring run to the last eight. Portugal only narrowly beat them in 2018 – courtesy of Ronaldo’s solitary goal – and another tight affair is likely here. However, the Portuguese are fresher and are full of confidence, so they should sneak into the semi-finals. Morocco 1-2 Portugal
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