The following is a match centre with betting tips for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B fixture between Spain and Morocco. The game kicks off on the 26th of June at 4:00 AM AEST. It will be broadcast live on SBS Viceland.
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Spain
- FIFA World Rank: 10
- Elo Rating: 3
- Qualifying: Won Group G with a 9-1-0 record in the UEFA Confederation qualification.
Squad:
- Coach: Fernando Hierro
- Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao)
- Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Alvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Nacho (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal)
- Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City).
- Forwards: Isco (Real Madrid), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Rodrigo (Valencia), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
Recent results:
- Iran 0 – 1 Spain
20/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Portugal 3 – 3 Spain
15/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Tunisia 0 – 1 Spain
09/06/2018
Friendly, played in Russia - Spain 1 – 1 Switzerland
03/06/2018
Friendly, played in Spain - Spain 6 – 1 Argentina
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Spain - Germany 1 – 1 Spain
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Germany - Russia 3 – 3 Spain
14/11/2017
Friendly, played in Russia - Spain 5 – 0 Costa Rica
11/11/2017
Friendly, played in Spain - Israel 0 – 1 Spain
09/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Israel - Spain 3 – 0 Albania
06/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Spain - Liechtenstein 0 – 8 Spain
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Liechtenstein - Spain 3 – 0 Italy
02/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Spain
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 30-9-7
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 45-1
- O/U 1.5 record: 34-12
- O/U 2.5 record: 23-23
- O/U 3.5 record: 15-31
- O/U 4.5 record: 9-37
- O/U 5.5 record: 7-39
- Wins
- Total wins: 30
- Won by 1 goal: 10
- Won by 2 goals: 6
- Won by 3 goals: 5
- Won by 4 goals: 4
- Won by 5 goals: 3
- Won by 5+ goals: 2
- Won to nil 23
- Losses
- Total losses: 7
- Lost by 1 goal: 5
- Lost by 2 goals: 2
- Lost by 3 goals: 0
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 5
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 46
- Clean Sheets: 24
- Held Scoreless: 6
- Both Teams Scored: 17
Morocco
- FIFA World Rank: 41
- Elo Rating: 36
- Qualifying: Won Group C with a 3-3-0 record in the CAF Third Round.
Squad:
- Coach: Hervé Renard (France)
- Goalkeepers: Mounir El Kajoui (Numancia), Yassine Bounou (Girona), Ahmad Reda Tagnaouti (Ittihad Tanger)
- Defenders: Mehdi Benatia (Juventus), Romain Saiss (Wolves), Manuel Da Costa (Basaksehir), Badr Benoun (Raja Casablanca), Nabil Dirar (Fenerbahce), Achraf Hakimi (Real Madrid), Hamza Mendyl (LOSC)
- Midfielders: M'barek Boussoufa (Al Jazira), Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord), Youssef Ait Bennasser (Caen), Sofyan Amrabat (Feyenoord), Younes Belhanda (Galatasaray), Faycal Fajr (Getafe), Amine Harit (Schalke 04)
- Forwards: Khalid Boutaib (Malatyaspor), Aziz Bouhaddouz (Saint Pauli), Ayoub El Kaabi (Renaissance Berkane), Nordin Amrabat (Leganes), Mehdi Carcela (Standard de Liege), Hakim Ziyech (Ajax)
Recent results:
- Portugal 1 – 0 Morocco
20/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Morocco 0 – 1 Iran
15/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Estonia 1 – 3 Morocco
09/06/2018
Friendly, played in Estonia - Slovakia 1 – 2 Morocco
04/06/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Ukraine 0 – 0 Morocco
31/05/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Morocco 2 – 0 Uzbekistan
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Morocco - Serbia 1 – 2 Morocco
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Italy - Ivory Coast 0 – 2 Morocco
11/11/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Ivory Coast - South Korea 1 – 3 Morocco
10/10/2017
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Morocco 3 – 0 Gabon
07/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Morocco - Mali 0 – 0 Morocco
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Mali - Morocco 6 – 0 Mali
01/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Morocco
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 29-10-11
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 43-7
- O/U 1.5 record: 29-21
- O/U 2.5 record: 20-30
- O/U 3.5 record: 10-40
- O/U 4.5 record: 4-46
- O/U 5.5 record: 2-48
- Wins
- Total wins: 29
- Won by 1 goal: 9
- Won by 2 goals: 9
- Won by 3 goals: 6
- Won by 4 goals: 3
- Won by 5 goals: 1
- Won by 5+ goals: 1
- Won to nil 19
- Losses
- Total losses: 11
- Lost by 1 goal: 11
- Lost by 2 goals: 0
- Lost by 3 goals: 0
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 10
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 50
- Clean Sheets: 26
- Held Scoreless: 17
- Both Teams Scored: 14
Commentary
With one round to play, Spain sit top of Group B, with fair play points separating them from second placed Portugal. After conceding 3 goals in their 3-3 draw with Portugal, Spain shut out Iran 1-0 in the second fixture, with their opponents failing to register a single shot on target. Spain weren’t convincing themselves, however, with a large slice of luck helping them score the winning goal. Spain were the better side against Portugal, however, so they will feel they were due some luck after failing to beat their Iberian Peninsula neighbours. While Spain have yet to hit their strides this tournament, they are unbeaten in 22 matches in all competitions (15-7-0) and have scored in each game. Rule them out at your own peril! One impressive stat is Spain have won their final group game in each of the last eight World Cups, a streak that goes back to 1986. In team news, Spain could be without back-up goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Defender Nacho Monreal has recovered from a minor niggle and should be available for selection, perhaps from the bench.
Morocco have been eliminated following 1-0 defeats to Iran and Portugal. They will have felt hard done by in both results. Iran’s winner came courtesy of a 95th minute own goal, while against Portugal, Morocco enjoyed more of the possession and manufactured good attacking opportunities. They lacked the cutting edge to take their chances, however, which is why they sit bottom of the group. One unfortunate stat for Morocco is they have registered more shots than their opponents in each of their last six World Cup defeats. Against Iran and Portugal they also had more possession and corners. At least Morocco can claim they’ve gone down swinging. In team news, Youssef Ait Bennasser has been ruled out with a leg injury.
Betting
bet365 odds (subject to change):
Compare the latest bookmaker odds for Spain vs. Morocco
Unlike Iran, Morocco probably won’t try to park the bus and play for a draw, because they have little to gain from doing do. Morocco head coach Herve Renard has said “our focus is to finish stronger against Spain. That is what is on our minds now. We have qualified for the World Cup for the first time after 20 years and we have shown that we can play football.” I expect Morocco will try and take Spain on like they did against Portugal. This will create opportunities for Spain, who I expect will win. Spain have scored at least 2 goals in each of their previous World Cup matches against African opponents, against whom they have a 3-1-0 record. Over the last four years, 23 of Spain’s 30 wins have been to nil. Over the same period, 10 of Morocco’s 11 defeats were to nil. Interestingly, all of Morocco’s 11 defeats were by exactly 1 goal, however they haven’t faced a team of Spain’s calibre too often.
Betting tip: back Spain to win to nil at 2.15 (Ladbrokes)
Notes
- FIFA World rankings are from the 7th of June and sourced from https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html
- The World Football Elo Ratings are from the 11th of June and are based on the Elo rating system, developed by Dr. Arpad Elo. This system is used by the international chess federation to rate chess players and is considered by many to be a superior rating tool to the one used by FIFA. The ratings have been sourced from https://www.eloratings.net/.
- Squad lists sourced from http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/11374464/every-world-cup-squad-listed-argentina-brazil-russia-and-more