Spain vs. Morocco, Brazil into quarterfinals, Tuesday’s best bets

Morocco are the feel-good story of the 2022 World Cup match up to now. The Atlas Lions topped their group, the primary African nation to take action on this century, and will likely be trying to upset their neighbors Spain in Tuesday’s spherical of 16 conflict.

Meanwhile, Brazil aren’t holding something again after scoring 4 first-half targets towards South Korea to advance to the quarterfinals. The Selecao are one of the crucial entertaining groups to look at, offering soccer that is simple on the attention with loads of aptitude, particular person expertise and dance strikes to have a good time.

Be positive to test in with ESPN all through the match as we carry you the most recent from Qatar. Here’s what you might need missed from Monday’s World Cup happenings, and a sit up for Tuesday for what’s subsequent.

– World Cup information, options, previews and extra
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Spain or Morocco?

Neighbors Spain and Morocco will meet within the spherical of 16 on Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. ET. Morocco stunned the world after profitable their group and selecting up as many factors as England and Netherlands. That identical group included Belgium and Croatia, and an emphatic win towards the previous confirmed everybody they imply enterprise in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Luis Enrique’s aspect began the match with a 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica, however ended up drawing towards Germany and dropping towards Japan. They needed to accept the runners-up spot, and can look to have realized from their errors towards a Moroccan aspect in dreamland.

Spain’s midfield is arguably the best within the match, with the likes of veteran Sergio Busquets coupled with younger stars Pedri and Gavi, all three hailing from Barcelona. They’ll look to regulate the sport and beat their opponents with possession, motion and off-the-ball operating. However, they’ve been criticized for his or her lack of a No. 9, which Enrique discovered fault with, saying Ferran Torres and Alvaro Morata are often in that position.

– World Cup bracket: Spain, Morocco arrange QF match

For Morocco, it’s their fifth look on the World Cup. They’ve by no means made it previous the quarterfinals stage, and a date with future is ready for tomorrow. Although the percentages are towards them, head coach Walid Regragui stated the staff is “well-prepared” and that “we’ll do everything to win.” With staff chemistry, management and cohesiveness, Morocco might need the right combine to maintain on shocking.

Anything is feasible within the World Cup.

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James Olley particulars the important thing consider Brazil’s 4-1 win over South Korea within the World Cup spherical of 16.

Brazil placed on sensational displaying

Brazil’s efficiency towards South Korea encapsulates all the pieces about their soccer type. The passing, the trickery, the dancing. Even head coach Tite received concerned after they scored their third in lower than half-hour.

Neymar got here again from damage to tremendous cost the aspect into excessive gear and rating a purpose from the spot. He’s only one purpose away from equalling Pele’s Brazil purpose document. Vinicius Junior, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta have been among the many different scorers, although there might have been extra given the possibilities South Korea gave up.

And to ensure each member of their squad received minutes within the World Cup, Tite introduced on third-choice goalkeeper Weverton on the eightieth minute. Now everybody’s a part of the get together.

After the match, the gamers held a flag for Pele, who’s presently in hospital after being admitted there final week as he battles colon most cancers.

“I’ll watch the game from here at the hospital and I’ll be rooting for each one of you,” Pele stated, and the boys delivered. Joga Bonito.

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Today’s high reads

Booze cruise: What it is like at Qatar’s ocean-liner-turned-hotel World Cup get together spots
Fans from throughout type a melting pot of World Cup followers, alcohol imbibers, partiers and vacationers in Qatar’s docked ships getting used as inns.

Why Bruno Fernandes has been Portugal’s best participant on the World Cup
Bruno Fernandes was dropped for Portugal’s round-of-16 exit on the Euros. At the identical stage of this World Cup, he is been the staff’s key participant.

Morocco’s run to World Cup knockouts isn’t any fluke; the key is staff spirit
Many did not count on Morocco to get by means of, however they are going to have a large quantity of assist on the bottom once they face Spain on Tuesday.

Your best bets (odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook)

If you are trying to guess on the World Cup, ESPN contributors Paul Carr, Daniel Thomas and Dalen Cuff are right here to offer you key tips about odds, choices and futures. Here’s what we’ve got for Tuesday’s matches.

Morocco (+525) vs. Spain (-170), Draw (+270)

Dalen Cuff: Spain has regarded glorious for durations of this match and quixotically fragile in brief bursts. That was evident within the recreation towards Japan which noticed them go from up 1-0 to down 2-1 within the span of minutes. I believe they advance right here, however they are going to be pushed and are prone to surrendering a purpose to a very good counter-attacking Moroccan aspect. I like each groups to attain (+115).

Paul Carr: Dalen stole my play right here. As we noticed all through the group stage, Spain could have a ton of the ball and be weak on the counterattack. Both of these issues are high-quality with Morocco. Spain have solely allowed three targets in three video games, which in keeping with their 2.7 anticipated targets towards. That stated, Spain are permitting the second-best photographs within the match (0.16 xG/shot), so opponents are discovering good probabilities on the break. Morocco will try this too.

Daniel Thomas: Spain have had such a wierd world World Cup to this point and that makes this recreation very troublesome to evaluate. I’ll take the draw after 90 minutes.

Portugal (-117) vs. Switzerland (+350), Draw (+235)

Cuff: Portugal has been higher on this match than I anticipated. That stated, the Swiss staff received outcomes each ultimately summer season’s Euros and once more on this match — notably once they needed to win or draw to advance towards Serbia and got here again from down 2-1 to win 3-2. This is actually the identical Swiss staff that knocked out France within the Euros Round of 16 after being down 3-1 within the second half. I’m backing them to get a end in 90 minutes, double the prospect (win/draw) at -107. Or, should you’re feeling aggressive, they’re at +175 to advance.

Carr: Both of those groups have been extra open than anticipated up to now. Ten targets have been scored in Portugal’s three video games and eight in Switzerland’s, with underlying numbers that are not far off. That’s why I like over 2.5 targets at +127. It’s all the time a dangerous guess in a knockout recreation, which might flip into a cagey 1-0 kind of recreation, however I do not assume both staff will go for that on this one.

Thomas: There are two good groups going head-to-head right here. I agree it is going to be tight. I like Portugal to undergo on penalties (+850).

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Ale Moreno reacts to Fernando Santos’ feedback about him being sad with Cristiano Ronaldo.

News and notes

• Portugal’s coach Fernando Santos blasted Cristiano Ronaldo’s response to being subbed off in Friday’s group stage recreation towards South Korea. The Portugal captain regarded visibly annoyed when he was taken off within the second half of the 2-1 defeat, with cameras catching the 37-year-old showing to say, “He’s in a rush to sub me.” Santos stated he hadn’t seen the footage at first, however after watching it he stated “I didn’t like it. Didn’t like it at all. From there, it’s things you sort out internally. It was sorted out this way, and now we think about the game tomorrow. Everyone is focused on the game.” Santos then refused to verify whether or not Ronaldo can be named within the staff for the round-of-16 tie with Switzerland at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday — doubtlessly his final recreation at a World Cup.

• Didier Deschamps will ban his gamers from sporting jewellery, after saying Jules Kounde was “very lucky” to flee his anger for being instructed to take away a gold necklace throughout Sunday’s 3-1 win towards Poland. The Barcelona defender Kounde was compelled off the pitch when referee Jesus Valenzuela noticed the full-back’s gold chain on the skin of his shirt. “He [Kounde] shouldn’t have started the game with that on,” Deschamps stated. “I don’t know what he has on the necklace, but I know he’s a bit superstitious and he wears it in training too.” The defending world champions will face England on Saturday with the 2 nations set to satisfy in a World Cup for the primary time for the reason that 1982 World Cup in Spain.

• England’s Raheem Sterling has left England’s World Cup camp in Qatar and returned house after a break-in at his house. The 27-year-old Chelsea ahead missed the 3-0 World Cup round-of-16 win over Senegal after discovering out that his Surrey house was damaged into on Saturday night. The police assertion stated authorities have been contacted Saturday evening “after the occupants of the property came home and discovered a number of items including jewellery and watches had been stolen.” England captain Kane stated, “Our thoughts are with him and his family. It’s a private matter, but it’s never easy to see one of your teammates and friends deal with something like that.”