World Cup quarter-finals: Previews and Betting Tips

Thirty-two teams started out the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and after the group matches and the round of 16 we are down to 8 teams left in the competition.

Of these eight teams, Morocco make history by qualifying for the quarter-finals for the first time and are the only African team remaining at the World Cup. There are also four past winners -Brazil, France, Argentina and England- of the trophy alongside four teams that have never won the title – Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands and Croatia.

Here is our preview of all quarter-final matches and betting tips. For more details about the teams and players still at the 2022 World Cup, visit the BetKing World Kup Hub

England vs France 

Divided by just the English Channel, England will face off against neighbours France at the Al Bayt Stadium in the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.  

England proved too strong against Senegal, putting three goals past the Teranga Lions, while defending champions France were 3-1 victors against Poland in their round of 16 clash. 

This sets up a mouthwatering clash between two familiar foes. While France are looking to become the first team to defend their World Cup title since Brazil won back-to-back World Cups in 1958 and 1962, England are chasing a first major tournament trophy in fifty-four years. 

Form Guide  

England 

After conceding twice to Iran in their opening match of the World Cup, England have gone three games without letting a goal in and are unbeaten in the tournament. 

Despite a slow start against Senegal, they were ruthless once they created clear chances with Jude Bellingham the star performer in their round of 16 match. 

However, quarter-finals have been somewhat of a banana peel for the Three Lions, they have been eliminated at the quarter-finals seven times, also, 6 of their last 8 World Cup exits have been at the hands of European opposition. 

 France 

France are in their fifth quarter-finals of the World Cup in their last seven appearances. They have gotten to this stage in all of their last three World Cups and have won eight out of ten times when pitted against European nations in knockout matches. 

Unlike England who have been resolute at the back, France are yet to keep a clean sheet at the 2022 World Cup and lost in the two World Cup matches they have previously played against England. 

Only one of the 31 meetings between England and France has ended in a stalemate, with both teams scoring in 18 of those matches.  

Team News 

England  

Raheem Sterling has had to leave the squad and return to England after reports of a break-in at his house. While Ben White has also had to return home for personal reasons.  

Callum Wilson has a minor strain that will be assessed ahead of the game. Declan Rice missed training on Wednesday due to illness, it is yet to be seen how this will affect his inclusion in the game on Saturday.  

Potential England starting XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice, Henderson; Saka, Kane, Foden 

(4-3-3) 

France 

Kylian Mbappe returned to training on Wednesday after missing Tuesday’s session, meaning the PSG striker is going to be in the starting XI against England. 

This is good news for Le Bleus, who have won all nine of their World Cup matches that Mbappe has started. 

Aurelien Tchouameni and Jules Kounde are both one yellow card from a suspension in the semi-final, regardless, they are expected to be part of the team that plays on Saturday. 

Potential France starting XI:  Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud 

(4-3-3)  

Prediction 

A lot has been said about the threat of Kylian Mbappe, the Frenchman is the tournament’s leading goal scorer with 5 goals. The England defence will be aware of the danger his pace poses behind the lines. 

However, England can be confident of finding the back of the net against the French backline that is yet to keep a clean sheet.  The deciding factor might be the better bench, the introduction of five substitutes means both teams can tinker with the lineup late in the game when fatigue sets in.  

Most importantly, England must have a good start if they do not want to get steamrolled by the France attack. 

Bet on 

• France to win @ 2.52 
• England to win @ 3.15 
• Over 2.5 goals @ 2.08 
• Over 8.5 corners @ 1.86  

Morocco vs Portugal 

Goncalo Ramos had a dream World Cup debut after he started in place of Cristiano Ronaldo and scored the competition’s first hat trick to become joint-second on the scorers’ charts. Portugal will now face off against a resolute Morocco team that dumped Spain out of the round of 16 via penalties. 

It is Morocco’s first-ever appearance in the quarter-final appearance and are the only African team remaining in the tournament  

Form Guide 

Morocco 

While Senegal were tipped as the African team to perform best at the World Cup, Morocco have been the best of the African contingent, booking a place into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history and making them only the fourth African country to do so. 

They held fellow quarter-finalists Croatia to a draw, then beat Belgium and Canada to qualify for the last 16 where they saw off Spain in a penalty shootout thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. 

Most impressively, no opposing player has scored a goal against Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the only goal they have conceded a Nayef Aguerd own goal.  

Portugal 

Portugal are in the country’s first World Cup quarter-final since 2006 thanks to a breathtaking 6-1 trouncing of Switzerland in the round of 16. 

Fernando Santos relegated Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench and this tactical change proved to be a masterstroke, with Ronaldo’s replacement scoring a hattrick, Rafael Leao, Raphael and Pepe also got on the scoresheet. While Ronaldo’s omission from the starting XI grabbed all the headlines, Santos also kept Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves on the substitutes bench with the end result justifying his big call. 

Team News 

Morocco 

The 120 minutes played against Spain have taken a toll on the Morocco players. Defender Nayef Aguerd was substituted due to injury, while Romain Saiss required treatment on the pitch for what appeared to be a thigh problem. 

If both players come through training, Walid Regragui is expected to name the same team that defeated Spain. 

Potential Morocco starting XI:  Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal. 

(4-3-3)  

Portugal 

Nuno Mendes and Danilo Pereira are no longer expected to take part in the World Cup due to injury. Danilo is reported to be on his way back to his club to continue his recovery. 

The Portuguese FA denied rumours that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the team, however, it remains to be seen if Ronaldo will return to the starting XI, especially with the excellent cameo Ramos had against Switzerland. 

Potential Morocco starting XI:   

Costa; Dalot, Pepe, Dias, Guerreiro; Otavio, Carvalho, Bernardo; Fernandes, Ramos, Felix. 

(4-3-3) 

Prediction 

Morocco showed against Spain they can counter-press effectively and were denied a goal in regular time by some errant finishing in front of the goal. 

However, the team expended a lot of energy in that round of 16 fixture and it remains to be seen how well they will have recovered for the quarter-final match. 

Fernando Santos supposedly dropped Ronaldo from the starting eleven for more fluidity in his team, that call proved to be right as his team were ruthless against Switzerland. They are also the better-rested team, needing only 90 minutes to come through their round of 16  fixture.  

They will be tested against an organised Morocco team but should be able to manage the win that will see them appear in the semifinals for only the second time in history.  

Bet on 

• Portugal to win @ 1.71 
• Under 2.5 goals @ 1.67 
• Under 4.5 bookings @ 1.32  

The Qatar 2022 World Cup has served up a series of entertaining matches and as we get to the tail end of the competition, the quality of the teams on show has only improved making for some nail biting encounters. 

After this round of matches, only two more match wins will be needed to lift the trophy on December 18.