Morocco might be eliminated from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but they can certainly play spoiler as +950 underdogs in Matchday 3 action against Spain on Monday.
Spain will be gunning hard for all three points against The Atlas Lions to secure passage to the knockout stages but a draw, plus help from Portugal against Iran, could also see them through. There’s no doubt, however, that La Furia Roja will want to take matters into their hands and solidify a full three points.
With Morocco a big underdog in this one, Spain can be had at -300 with the draw available at +400 at online shop Sportsbook. In spread betting, Spain is a 1.5-goal fave at +110 with Morocco -130 as dogs. The total is 2.5 with OVER -120 and UNDER at even money.
- Spain leads the World Cup in possession at 67.2 percent.
- Spain striker Diego Costa has seven goals in his last nine appearances.
- UNDER 2.5 has cashed in four of Morocco’s last five games in World Cup and qualifiers.
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You Can’t Lose if You Always Have the Ball
As they frequently do, Spain has dominated the ball at the World Cup and with players like Isco, David Silva, Andres Iniesta, etc., dominating possession, they are doing it comfortably and elegantly, much like Spain sides from the past.
Entering Sunday’s Matchday 2 contests, Spain was leading the World Cup in possession with 67.2 percent of the ball in their first two games. Spain had 65.5 percent of the ball in a 3-3 draw with Spain on Matchday 1 and a whopping 77.7 percent of the ball against Iran. That said, Iran was clearly playing for the draw, happy to sit back and absorb Spanish possession until Diego Costa found the back of the net.
Will we see the same sort of numbers against Morocco on Monday? Maybe. One thing is for certain, however: Spain will be gunning to lock up their own fate with three points and it could be death by a thousand passes once again in Russia.
Costa Quietly Banging Goals
With Spain not bringing Alvaro Morata to Russia, a lot of eyebrows were raised about the striker position. Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa put the brakes on any of that talk with a brace against Portugal and the aforementioned third against Iran.
But Costa has been scoring for the national side pretty steadily for some time now. He’s got a tidy 10 goals in 22 caps for the national team but he’s banged home seven in his last nine appearances for Spain.
As the tip of the spear in the Spanish attack, he’s currently priced at +280 to score first and -110 to score anytime at Sportsbook in Monday’s contest.
Morocco Brings Quality Defending
While many, myself included, expected Morocco to potentially be a spoiler in Group B, boasting flair in possession and quality playmakers in Hakim Ziyech and Amine Harit, they have been a stout defensive unit at the other side of the pitch for a while.
The Atlas Lions famously did not concede in CAF qualifying, punching their tickets to Russia with 11 goals scored and six clean sheets in Group C.
Totals bettors will like the fact that Morocco’s two World Cup games and two of their last three World Cup qualifiers have resulted in UNDER 2.5. That can currently be had at EVEN money, but make no mistake, Medhi Benatia and the rest of that Morocco backline will have their work cut out for them to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
