Can Morocco defy the bookmakers odds again and keep their World Cup dream alive against France?

Walid Regragui’s Morocco team became the first nation from the continent of Africa to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup when they defeated Portugal 1-0 in their quarter-final clash at the Al Thumama Stadium. So, with a tough semi-final against France later this week, what are the chances that Morocco can extend that record further by causing an even bigger shock, and knocking out the current world champions and becoming the first African side to ever reach the World Cup final?

The bookmakers seem to have already written Morocco off

In this instance, it’s fair to say the bookmakers aren’t giving Morocco much of a chance of progressing any further. In the latest France vs Morocco betting, Didier Deschamps’ side are 8/15 favourites with Betfair to win in 90 minutes, with the draw at 29/10, and a Morocco win at 6/1.

In the betting to qualify for the final by any method, the Moroccans are 10/3 to beat France and reach the final. In the same market, the French are just 1/5. So the latest betting odds suggest that Walid Regragui’s team are not expected to break any more records by getting beyond the semi-finals.

Of course, this is nothing new. It was the same case ahead of Morocco’s victory over Portugal, where the 2016 European Championship winners were favourites to win, and put an end to the African nation’s fairytale run.

So this could just end up providing more incentive for the Moroccans to go out and prove everybody wrong all over again.

France favourites to lift the World Cup

Another market that confirms the bookmakers have all but written off the Moroccan’s chances is the outright winner market to win the 2022 World Cup. In this market, France are the 11/10 favourites, Argentina are second at 13/8, Croatia is third at 15/2, whilst Morocco is the 10/1 fourth favourites.

This shouldn’t bother the Moroccans though, they know they are not expected to win. At the start of the competition, Morocco were expected to fall at the first hurdle. They weren’t even expected to get out of their group, one which included Croatia, Belgium, and Canada.

But they did, winning Group F with seven points from their three games, knocking out the highly-rated Belgians in the process. Time and time again, they defied the bookmakers and progressed to the next round. Since knocking out Kevin De Bruyne and company, they’ve gone on to dispose of Spain and Portugal. So, they will be thinking, why not France as well? After all, they’ve already got rid of three of Europe’s strongest sides.

France will provide stiffer opposition

The French will possess a greater threat though. Yes, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal are good, but they don’t possess the tools the French do. They also didn’t have the experience of winning the World Cup four years ago to help them through difficult periods. And as France showed against England, they can win whilst not at their best, showing Morocco just how difficult their task will be this Wednesday.

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