Morocco vs Portugal: World Cup quarter final team news and prediction

Morocco and Portugal will face off on Saturday for the third time at a World Cup in the third 2022 World Cup quarter-final. Morocco went all the way to penalties against Spain to book their place, while Portugal recorded the second biggest win of this year’s tournament, winning 6-1 against Switzerland.

Ahead of this one, we provide the necessary pre-match information, including where to watch the World Cup quarter-final, team news and probable XIs... 

When is kick off? 

Saturday 10th December, 15:00 GMT 

Where is the match? 

Al Thumama Stadium, Al Thumama (Qatar) 

What TV channel is it on? 

ITV, ITVX app and ITV website 

Route to the quarter final 

Morocco were unbeaten in their route to the quarter-finals, only conceding one goal along the way, the fewest of any team in Qatar. They topped Group F ahead of Croatia, winning twice, including a 2-0 win over Belgium, and drawing the other. In the last-16 they took Spain the whole way without conceding, including in the penalty shootout, which they won 3-0. They will be only the fourth African side to play a World Cup quarter-final and will be hoping to become the first to reach a semi-final.

While Morocco have conceded the fewest number of goals, Portugal have scored the joint most heading into these quarter-finals. They also topped their group, with six points, only losing to South Korea in their final group game. They put that defeat behind them in the round of 16 with a convincing 6-1 win over Switzerland, in which Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick on his first World Cup start. Portugal have reached the World Cup quarter-finals on two previous occasions and in both instances they reached the semi-finals. 

Team news 

Morocco could be without both first choice centre-backs with Romain Saiss and Nayef Aguerd needing to be assessed ahead of the game to see if they will be available. Saiss received treatment on the pitch during the win over Spain owing to a hamstring problem, but still managed to play on and see out the match. While Aguerd is more likely to miss out after coming off in that win over Spain with what appeared to be a groin injury.

For Portugal, they will be without Nuno Mendes, who has been ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury he sustained in the win over Uruguay. Danilo Pereira hasn’t been involved for Portugal since the opening group win over Ghana due to a rib injury, so he will likely be out of this game too.

Probable XIs

Morocco (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Yamiq, Saiss, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

Portugal (4-3-3): Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Otavio, Carvalho, Silva; Fernandes, Ramos, Felix

Key battle: Achraf Hakimi vs Raphael Guerreiro

Two former Borussia Dortmund teammates will go head-to-head on Saturday and though they will be on differing sides of the pitch, they will be play a big role in helping their side to try and reach the semi-finals. Hakimi has been pivotal in maintaining stability at the back for Morocco, while Guerreiro has offered that extra attacking threat for Portugal, with three goal contributions.

These are highlighted in the stats battle between the pair. While Hakimi has made more tackles (17), which is the most by any player in Qatar, and more interceptions (6), it is Guerreiro who leads in the more offensive stats with more goals (1), assists (2) and key passes (5) than his counterpart. But both players rank well in most areas, emphaising the all-round nature to their game in what could prove decisive in the outcome of this game.

Score prediction: Morocco 1-1 Portugal