World Cup 2022 - Final (and 3rd-place match)

[spkutano]

 

[spkutano]

Croatia vs Morocco Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Croatia:
Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Sutalo, Sosa; Modric, Jakic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Kramaric, Perisic

Morocco:
Bono; Hakimi, El-Yamiq, Dari, Attiyat-Allah; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

Croatia and Morocco will fight for the bronze medal on Saturday at the Khalifa International Stadium. The players from both teams are largely disappointed with the semi-finals' elimination, however, both sides will do everything for a podium finish on the grandest stage. Croatia were comfortably seen off 3:0 by Argentina on Tuesday. Lionel Messi scored the opening goal from the penalty spot before Julian Alvarez's solo run brought La Albiceleste their second, albeit with some slices of good fortune after a couple of ricochets. Alvarez also scored the third in the 69th minute, but it was Messi who did the main job. Previously Croatia have eliminated Brazil and Japan on their way to the semi-finals. Goalkeeper Livakovic was the hero on these matches. In the quarter-final, he kept Brazil out 11 times before also saving from Rodrygo in the penalty shootout. This was a second successive World Cup semi-final for the Red and Whites. Croatia reached the final at World Cup 2018, but weren't able to repeat the success again. Dalic has most of his players available for this match, but Marcelo Brozovic is rated as doubtful. The midfielder was replaced after 50 minutes against Argentina due to discomfort. Defender Gvardiol needed injections to play through the pain of a foot injury in midweek, so he could be replaced by Sutalo here.

Morocco fought valiantly against France but weren't able to score and lost 2:0 at the end. However, they wrote the history becoming the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final. The Atlas Lions refused to buckle, despite suffering the early blows of losing key defender Nayef Aguerd to injury after he was named in the starting lineup, and then going behind to Theo Hernandez's scrambled fifth minute goal. Morocco created lot of opportunities, but Kolo Muani finally broke their resistance late on with his first touch, 44 seconds after coming on, for his maiden France goal. After the match, the players and coaching staff were given a huge and prolonged ovation from their supporters. And it was completely deserved after yet another excellent performance which showed exactly why they have been such a glorious surprise package at this tournament. Coach Walid Regragui, who replaced Vahid Halilhodzic before the World Cup, was unlucky to lose crucial players before and shortly after kick-off. Nevertheless, Morocco remain the biggest surprise of the tournament as nobody believed they could reach the semi-finals. They had a difficult group that contained two big favorites Croatia and Belgium. Nevertheless, Regragui's men have registered two victories against Belgium and Canada, plus a draw with Croatia. The victories against Spain and Portugal in the knock-out phase were huge surprises that shocked the World. Regragui had lot of issues ahead of the semi-final and many of them are still existing. Aguerd, Mazraoui and Saiss have all recovered ahead of the semi-final, but the injured triumvirate dropped out one by one. They are all rated as doubtful for this match.

Croatia vs Morocco Prediction:

It will be very hard for the players from both national teams to find motives after the semi-finals elimination. However, I think Morocco won't lose in the regular 90 minutes. The Atlas Lions were solid against France, even they suffered defeat. Croatia, meanwhile, were not at desired level against Argentina. Brozovic is struggling with injury, Modric and Kovacic are tired, so I will give some advantage to Morocco.

Croatia vs Morocco Pick: Morocco +0,5 AH @ 1.65 with Pinnacle

 

[ALEXXXXXXX]

Croatia vs Morocco
Asian Handicap opened on Croatia at -0.25, clearly overpriced to me since Croatia ranks 12th against Morocco ranks 22nd in FIFA World ranking given the qualities of Croatia against a massive underdog.

Morocco's odds on Asian Handicap (+0.25) clearly dropping since their cool display against France. And back in the Group stage, Morocco already managed to draw 0-0 against Croatia and prevented a goal. This game clearly going to be for Morocco in my opinion.

For higher returns, take a bet on Morocco to Qualify (or finish 3rd place). This market is a lot better than full-time 90 mins as it is included extra time and penalties!

Morocco - AH (+0.5) or X2

 

[spkutano]

Argentina vs France Preview:

Possible starting lineups:

Argentina:
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Di Maria, Messi, Alvarez

France:
Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, Theo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud

Argentina will face France in the World Cup 2022 final on Sunday afternoon at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Les Bleus are reigning champions and they are the first holders in 24 years to participate in the final. But Messi and his teammates will try to lift the trophy too. They were shocked in the opening match of the tournaments when lost 2:1 to Saudi Arabia. Because of that, the remaining two matches with Mexico and Poland were "To be or not to be". Argentina managed to register two victories and celebrated the progress. Australia were the victims in the first knock-out phase as Messi and Alvarez secured a 2:1 win. It was much harder against the Netherlands, but the Albiceleste secured the semi-finals after the penalty roulette. Finally, a 3:0 win against Croatia mean coach Scaloni's men will play in the final. Most of the players are ready, including full-backs Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna who served a suspension against Croatia. Scaloni has just one injury worry as Alejandro Gomez is rated as doubtful due to an ankle sprain. There are some rumors that Messi is struggling with hamstring injury, but there is nothing to suggest that the captain could miss the final.

As I wrote above, France are looking for their second consecutive World Cup title. Les Bleus were between the most consistent sides in Qatar. They finished first in Group D, beating 4:1 Australia and 2:1 Denmark. In the last round they lost 1:0 to Tunisia, but the defeat was meaningless. Furthermore, several key players, including Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann, were not in the starting eleven. In the knock-out stage Didier Deschamps' men have eliminated Poland, England and Morocco. France deserved all three victories, but they were lucky in some situations. A 2:0 win against the Atlas Lions was he first clean sheet for Hugo Lloris and his fellow-defenders. I believe their confidence is now higher. But Deschamps has lot of worries ahead of the final. Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot, who missed the semi-final with Morocco, are understood to be feeling better, but they are rated as doubtful for Sunday. Ibrahima Konate was excellent in the semi-final, but suffered an injury. According to some French reporters, Liverpool centre-back is feeling worse than Varane, so Deschamps has big decision about the defense. Coman missed the training session on Thursday and he is also an injury doubt. Left-back Theo Hernandez suffered a knee injury against Morocco, but he is expected to be in the starting lineup for the final.

Argentina vs France Prediction:

France become the first reigning champions to progress to the final since Brazil in 1998. Les Bleus become only the third national team - after Italy and Brazil - to win back-to-back World Cups. Deschamps's men should be consider as favorites due to experience. Argentina have Messi, but he will be under heavy pressure as this is his last chance to win the World Cup. Messi will have a problem to handle the pressure. On contrary, Kylian Mbappe will try to become the youngest ever player to net in more than one World Cup final.

Argentina vs France Pick: France to win @ 2.80 with Everygame