Canada vs Morocco Picks & Odds: Reds Fading in Wake of Loss to Croatia

Canada looks to wrap up its first FIFA World Cup appearance in 36 years on a winning note against Morocco on Thursday in Group F action. The Canadians saw their World Cup hopes shattered with Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Croatia that left them pointless going into their third and final group-stage contest.

Morocco’s bid to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since 1986 remains very much alive after they shocked Belgium 2-0 on Sunday to remain undefeated in group-stage action. The Atlas Lions now need just a single point in Thursday’s contest to assure themselves of a berth in the Round of 16. This marks the second all-time meeting between these sides. Morocco marched to a decisive 4-0 win when they met in a friendly in Marrakech in November 2016.

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Canada vs Morocco Sportsbook Odds 

Morocco has made significant gains since both Canada and the Atlas Lions opened sporting +225 odds to claim victory on Thursday. The Moroccans have vaulted to +112 chalk while Canada has faded to the +260 underdog. The odds of Thursday’s matchup ending in a draw have lengthened to +250, and the total has held steady since Sportsbook at 2.5.

Get the best Canada vs Morocco World Cup odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.

Herdman Under Fire in Wake of Loss to Croatia

Alphonso Davies raised the hopes of a nation just 67 seconds into Canada’s date with Croatia, scoring the Reds’ first goal ever in World Cup play to give the squad an early lead. The Canadians continued to press through the early stages of the contest before steadily fading in the face of a ferocious Croatian attack that left them trailing 2-1 at halftime.

Head coach John Herdman has attracted immense criticism for his use of profanity in pre-game comments about Croatia that did little else but light a fire under the Blazers. His inability to adapt as the Blazers took control of the contest has also come under fire, particularly his insistence on sticking with veteran midfielder Atiba Hutchinson, who was victimized on both of Croatia’s second-half goals.

While Hutchinson’s role in Thursday’s contest is unclear, the Reds’ offensive hopes will once again be carried by Davies, who has now scored three times in four non-friendly appearances. The performance of veteran midfielder Junior Hoilett should not be overlooked after racking up a team-high three shots on Sunday.

Stingy Defense Fueling Morocco’s Shutout Streak

Given little chance to advance out of Group F ahead of the start of the tournament, Morocco remains in reach of the top of the table going into Thursday’s action after knocking off the high-powered Belgians. With Sunday’s win, the Atlas Lions have now kept clean sheets in six straight matches across all competitions and have claimed victory by multi-goal margins on four occasions over that stretch.

Morocco has benefited from offensive contributions from across the lineup during their current surge, with seven different players finding the back of the net. That distributed scoring is timely considering the Moroccans entered the World Cup without their two leading goal scorers during qualifying, Ryan Mmaee and Ayoub El Kaabi.

Indeed, maintaining a high level of opportunistic play could be a challenge for Morocco, which enjoyed just 33 percent possession against Belgium and just 35 percent in their scoreless draw with Croatia. 

Canada vs Morocco Game Prop: Morocco to Keep Clean Sheet

Canada struggled to keep pace with Croatia as Sunday’s contest wore on. Conversely, the stingy defense that Morocco has played in recent months makes the team a high-value +165 bet at Sportsbook to extend its current run of shutout performances to seven.

Canada: Keys to Win

Once again dictating the pace early on could pay dividends for Canada. Putting Morocco in an unfamiliar position of a team down by a goal could force the Atlas Lions defense to open up, providing the Reds with further offensive opportunities. However, Herdman must also make hard personnel decisions that are most effective at countering the opportunistic Moroccan attack while setting personal loyalties aside.

Morocco: Keys to Win

The Atlas Lions find themselves in the hunt for the top of the table despite being largely outplayed in their first two contests. To take things to the next level, this squad needs another steady goaltending performance out of goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi, who has allowed just one total goal in his past five outings in all competitions.

World Cup Computer Pick: Morocco +112

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