Morocco
Morocco can have themselves feel a little unlucky finishing second in Group C behind five times champions Brazil, they outplayed them in the opening game of the group but ultimately only secured a 1-1 draw and they were pipped to top spot on goal difference.
Hvaing scored in the second minute on Matchday 2 against Scotland many would have expected Morocco to go on and win comfortably but they couldnt find another goal and held on for a slender 1-0 victory in Boston.
On Matchday 3 they struggled to put away minnows Haiti, twice they fell behind in the first half but hit back both times and took control in the second half and ran out comfortable 4-2 winner… the reward for finishing second in a tough Group…… The Netherlands !!
Injuries & Team News
It’s thought that Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi was not happy with his side against Haiti so he is expected to make plenty of changes to face The Netherlands in Guadalupe.
Noussair Mazraoui, Issa Diop, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Azzedine Ounahi expected to return to the first XI for the last-32 clash.
Ismael Saibari, who is set to make the move to Bayern Munich this summer, has scored three times in three appearances at the 2026 World Cup and will again lead the line.
Meanwhile, there will be spots in the XI for Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz.
Form
| Last Match | Last 6 Matches |
|---|---|
| 4-2 vs Haiti | W W D D W W |
Predicted Line-Up
Morocco possible starting lineup:
Bono; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Brahim, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari
Netherlands
There hasn’t been this much optimism over a Netherlands team at the world cup for many years, Ronald Koeman has brought the good times back for “Oranje” They will feel hard done by to have won their group and drawn the FIFA ranked World Number 5 at this stage.
“Oranje” provided arguably the most entertaining game of Matchday 1 when they drew 2-2 with Japan. Twice the were ahead through Virgil Van Dijk & Crysencio Summerville but they were pegged back on both occasion.
Matchdays 2&3 were much more straight forward for Koeman’s men beating a fancied Sweden 5-1 in Houston before finishing the group with a comfortable 3-1 victory over already eliminated Tunisia in Kansas City.
Injuries & Team News
Media reports have been suggesting Brian Brobbey & Denzil Dumfries have been carrying knocks into this game but Koeman denied that in his press conference and confirmed that both are fit and will play.
Mickey Van de Ven sat out the Tunisia game with Nathan Ake taking his place but the Spurs man is fully expected to start once again at left back alongside Virgil Van Dijk and Jean Paul Van Hecke.
Brobbey will be hoping to keep his place ahead of Memphis Depay having scored three goals in the Tournament already.
Form
| Last Match | Last 6 Matches |
|---|---|
| 3-1 vs Tunisia | D L W D W W |
Predicted Line-Up
Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, F de Jong, Reijnders; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo
Betting Odds
| Team | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco Win | 7/5 – (2.40) | Grand Ivy |
| Draw | 9/4 – (3.25) | Dream Vegas |
| Netherlands Win | 13/5 – (3.60) | 247Bet |
Prediction
Morocco 1-2 Netherlands
Both of these sides have impressed so far at this world cup but now the real work starts and neither side would have wanted this game at this stage. i like the Netherlands here, they might nick it by the odd goal.