Mbappé headlines the best betting plays as France looks poised to capitalize on Morocco's depleted attack and generate sustained offensive pressure
On the sports betting front, huge news out of Morocco’s camp, with word that star forward Ismael Saibari will miss their quarterfinal World Cup match today against France.
Saibari has a hamstring injury and was in obvious discomfort after he was replaced 22 minutes into Morocco’s Round of 16 match against Canada on Sunday. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed the news.
Ouahbi said his absence is a significant loss, but Morocco won’t fundamentally chance its tactical approach, per Reuters.
That’s impacting betting lines, understandably. Saibari is the heartbeat of Morocco’s attack, a squad that’s ranked No. 6 in the world right now.
He has three goals in the tournament – scoring the opener against Brazil, the winner against Scotland, and the typing goal in the match against Haiti.
Saibari is the quarterback out there, whose ability to carry the ball through midfield, driving at defenders, creates space for players like Brahim Diaz and Azzedine Ounahi.
It’s a big, big loss for Morocco, going up against No. 1-ranked France. The team loses its best progressive ball carrier between the lines, its top scorer, so France can focus more on players like Diaz and Achraf Hakimi.
ESPN is reporting that Soufiane Rahimi, who came off the bench to replace Saibiri against the Canadians, will likely replace him to help lead the offence against France.
Today’s match is at 4 p.m. EST, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. In World Cup betting at Betway, France is -167, Morocco +500, with a draw priced at +275.
With the Saibiri news, I just don’t see the Moroccans getting by France, so I am taking the obvious France moneyline for this one.
Kylian Mbappé has been brilliant for France all tournament and enters the quarterfinal fully fit, sitting second to Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race with seven goals in five games. If Morocco sits back, as it did for stretches of the first half against Canada, France has the marksman Canada lacked. That makes Mbappé Anytime Goalscorer (-120) an appealing play.
If you’re looking at set-piece props, Over 10.5 Total Corners (+125) is a strong play. France earned 12 corners against Paraguay and 21 across its last two knockout victories. If Morocco sits deep, expect France to dominate possession, forcing more blocked shots, crosses and, ultimately, corners.
