Undoubatley one of best showdown of the 2018 FIFA World Cup so far was last Friday's clash between Portugal and Spain. The 2016 UEFA European Champion put on a stunner on the filed, drawing 3-3 score against the 2010 FIFA World Cup winners. Portugal, which overcame the 2-3 score at the final two minutes of the regular time of their opening game with its star player Cristiano Ronaldo's amazing free kick, will face Morocco today.
The heads are high with high odds, all eyes on today's clash between Portugal and Morocco. Portugal needs to secure a victory to advance through the group stage, while Morocco which is at the bottom of the Group B will be battling for their hopes to keep going the farthest they can. And no less than a stunner would be acceptable by their supporters.
Prior to the kick-off the due ferocious footballing battle, here are a few things we might want to know.
Portugal will face Morocco today at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, with kick-off time scheduled for 1 PM BST/ 8 AM EST. The match will be televised live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Portugal: (4-4-2)
Goal Keeper: Rui Patricio
Defenders: Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte, Raphael Guerreiro, Pepe
Midfielders: William Carvalho, Joao Mario, Bernardo Silva, Joao Moutinho
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Goncalo Guedes
Players to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe
Morocco: (4-2-3-1)
Goal Keeper: Munir Mohand Mohamedi
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Medhi Benatia, Hamza Mendyl, Nordin Amrabat
Midfielders: Younes Belhanda, Hakim Ziyech, Mbark Boussoufa, Karim El Ahmadi, Amine Harit
Forwards: Ayoub El Kaabi
Players to watch: Achraf Hakimi, Medhi Benatia
Frankly, today's clash between Portugal and Morocco will be more of Cristiano Ronaldo Vs Morocco. In their opening campaign of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Portuguese star scored a hat-trick against one of the strongest contenders for the World Cup, becoming the first player to do so against Spain in World Cup.
Despite, a highly sophisticated performance from the Porgual national team, their opening game came to an end with a tie, which brings the team to the necessity to secure a win on today's game to advance to the knockout stage. Portugal mostly has to rely on their star striker Cristiano, somehow play the ball to him, in or around the box and how lethal the striker is, David de Gea surely knows best.
While for Morocco, after facing a 1-0 loss to Iran, the team has a do or die situation against Portugal. It will be up to their star defenders Medhi Benatia and Achraf Hakimi to keep the ball away from Cristiano. And with Morocco's 4-2-3-1 possible line, Herve Renard wants to play more players in the back line rather than in attack.
Playerswiki Prediction
Portugal Vs Morocco: 2-0
Cristiano Ronaldo to score a hat-trick: 20/1
Morocco to win: 11/2
Over 3.5 goals: 10/2