Blow by blow: Portugal vs Morocco
Morocco would have gone into their Group B campaign thinking they had every chance of edging out Portugal and pinching a qualification spot.
Portuguese defender Bruno Fernandes (L) celebrates with captain Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring a goal during the friendly football match between Portugal and Algeria, on June 7, 2018 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon. / AFP PHOTO / JOSE MANUEL RIBEIRO
To follow every moment of the game LIVE, click or tap on THIS LINK!
That’s looking a long way off after they dominated against Iran before falling to a last-gasp sucker punch – as an aside, what an astonishing opening round of games for the North African contingent: three games, three late, late defeats.
Portugal’s draw with Spain means Morocco aren’t quite at the must-win stage mathematically, but in truth it’s hard to see how they can escape the group without three points in this one; it’s hard to see Portugal or Spain slipping up against Iran.
For the European champions, meanwhile, renewed confidence after a quite stunning game of football against Spain ended in a breathless 3-3 draw and a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick.
The fact that Spain (9/2 from 6/1) and Portugal (20/1 from 25/1) were both clipped to win the whole thing after a stalemate is testament to the quality both sides showed in a tournament where so many of the big guns are yet to convince
Portugal absolutely should win this one, and a performance anything like that against Spain would get the job done handily. But there has to be a note of caution for those thinking of steaming in at 13/20. Ronaldo and co. famously won only one of their six games en route to Euro 2016 glory inside 90 minutes – drawing all three of their group games – while when the dust settled in Sochi it was still only a point apiece.
Ronaldo’s outrageous hat-trick has him a firm early favourite in the Golden Boot betting at 9/4, and he looks a rock-solid choice at 5/6 to get on the scoresheet at some point in this one.
The great man can score from anywhere as we know, while the early evidence suggests there are going to be a huge number of spot-kicks at this tournament, meaning anyone who takes penalties is worth considering.
Our gut feel on this one is that Portugal will either struggle to match the intensity and quality of their Spain showing, or else cruise to victory. As such, if you’re going to back Portugal then look at getting them to do so with something to spare.
Portugal are 7/4 giving up a one-goal start and that looks very respectable given the goal threat they carry.
