Morocco’s giant surprises will continue, experts believe – can England withstand France’s onslaught?

Five countries from Europe, the biggest advance favorites of the tournament from South America and a surprise from Africa. The best eight are left in the World Cup.

Expert Erkka V. Lehtola bet Brazil, Argentina, Morocco and England in the semi-finals.

Expert Jonne Kunnas agreed with Lehtola regarding Brazil and Morocco, but according to him, the other two semi-final teams are Holland and France.

Here’s a tight information package and experts’ views on the World Cup quarterfinals. At the end of the story, you can find even more statistical information about the teams’ previous meetings.

Croatia–Brazil

Fri 9.12. at 5 p.m. (TV2 at 4:15 p.m.)

Brazil beat South Korea in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 performance in the opening period. Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta painted. In the second period, the brass could afford to take their foot off the gas.

In the opening group, Brazil beat Serbia and Switzerland and lost to Cameroon after already securing a place in the next round.

Croatia hasn’t lost in the tournament, but has advanced to the next round by beating the bar. In the opening group, it played 0–0 with Belgium and Morocco and won 4–1 against Canada. In the quarter-finals, Croatia beat Japan hard.

According to expert Kunnas, Croatia’s opportunity lies in the fact that Brazil’s defensive plays have not yet been put to a tough test.

– Those functions, especially in the midfield line, are not convincing either.

Croatia, on the other hand, has a clear structure in their possession and a united, experienced midfield trio Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric.

– It is important for Croatia that they get the midfield trio on the wing by Ivan Perisic to work with the ball. Through that, concentrations. That’s the Croatian way.

When Brazil won against South Korea, you could see the team spirit and joy of the game at its best from the yellow shirts. Even a 61-year-old head coach Tite joined the dance club at the finish party.

Kunnas believes that the joy will continue in the Croatia match. The structure and rhythms of Brazil’s attack have convinced the expert.

– Brazil has different ways to advance and get into scoring positions. The player material and the structure of the play support it, even if there are small question marks in defense.

Brazil is a clear early favorite, and the match will be decided by the quality and versatility of Brazil’s ball game, predicts Kunnas.

Lehtola anticipates a colorful match and believes that Croatia, which has shown its tenacity, will be able to do better than South Korea. Lehtola also ranked Brazil as a clear favorite.

– I believe that no matter what country you like, you can’t help but like that football. The kind of energy, the joy of the game, the amount of skill… Then we saw those guys there, Lehtola beamed.

Below you can watch and listen in more detail to Lehtola’s prediction for the match between Brazil and Croatia.

Netherlands–Argentina

Fri 9.12. at 9 p.m. (MTV)

Holland was number one in its initial group after beating Senegal and Qatar and drawing with Ecuador. In the quarter-finals, the Netherlands had no big problems in a 3–1 victory over the USA.

Argentina started the tournament with a shock loss to Saudi Arabia, but then beat Mexico and Poland 2–0. In the quarterfinals, Australia fell 2–1, albeit through difficulties.

Holland has improved its attacking, but there hasn’t been enough repetition in getting into scoring positions, says Kunnas.

– But it has been enough, and it can be enough in the Argentina game as well.

– The defense and the press have been clearly organized. It’s a bit different from other teams and it’s also Holland’s strength. In a 5-3-2 formation, they presumably force Argentina into the center and then man guard the midfield. I think they will cause problems for Argentina.

If the Netherlands has also improved, Argentina has improved the most during the tournament, especially its attacking game. At first, the team had great difficulties in finding passing directions. Defense, on the other hand, has not yet convinced the Municipality.

– My guess is that Holland will continue. Holland’s defense and press will cause enough trouble for Argentina. Argentina can’t get their quarterbacking to work, and the level of the defensive line is not enough under the Dutch pressure, Kunnas complains.

Lehtola anticipates a very even match, but bets that Argentina will go on. He thinks the head coach Lionel Scaloni has been successful in that Argentina has been able to vary its grouping and react to the flow of games.

Below you can watch and listen to Lehtola’s predictions about the match in more detail.

Morocco–Portugal

Sat 10.12. at 5 p.m. (TV2 at 4:20 p.m.)

The most positive surprise of this World Cup is Morocco. Morocco became the fourth African team in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, when it beat Spain with a hard-fought win on Tuesday.

Previously, Cameroon 1990, Senegal 2002 and Ghana 2010 have played in the quarter-finals. An African team has never advanced to the World Cup semi-finals. The closest was Ghana, who lost to Uruguay in a tough match.

Although we are talking about a surprise, of course the Moroccan team is cheering for the world’s top players, such as what many consider the world’s best winger, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi24, Bayern Munich winger Noussair Mazraoui25, Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech29, as well as the Seville tip Youssef En-Nesyri25.

There has been enough talk around Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo because of the situation. Ronaldo’s replacement in the quarterfinals Goncalo Ramos scored a hat trick and Portugal defeated Switzerland 6–1. Portugal won their opening group before South Korea, Uruguay and Ghana.

Now Morocco’s surprises can continue.

– Really well organized, strong block defense. It’s really hard to get between the lines. Opponents have to pass from a distance and advance from the back, it has been poison for the opponents, says Kunnas.

– On the other hand, Morocco has a clear idea of ​​how to act when the ball is taken away.

Portugal looked like a completely different team without Ronaldo, but Switzerland, on the other hand, could not be the hardest measure. According to Kunnas, however, there were signs of liberation in Portugal’s playing.

– Attacking Portugal is not the most tightly organized. Players make choices relative to the situation and the following players react. It has not worked in the best possible way, but sufficiently.

Portugal’s defense has worked, but against Morocco the most important thing is what happens when the ball is lost.

– Portugal is the favorite, but I have a feeling that Morocco can make another surprise. The decisive thing is whether Portugal can get behind Morocco’s defense. Portugal may be better than Spain here, but I still think Morocco will figure it out.

Lehtola also bet Morocco for the semi-finals.

– When Portugal scored six goals against Switzerland, you should probably say that Morocco has no chance – but it definitely does.

Below you can watch and listen to Lehtola’s predictions about the match in more detail.

English–French

Sat 10.12. at 9 p.m. (TV2 at 8:15 p.m.)

The semi-finals culminate in a heated encounter between the European giants.

England won their opening group ahead of USA, Iran and Wales. In the quarterfinals, Senegal was defeated 3–0 by young stars such as of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Sakan and by Phil Fodenand of course the more experienced ones Harry Kane and Jordan Hendersonled by

English has not been properly tested yet. Now the defense gets it Kylian Mbappe’s, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele’s and Olivier Giroud’s a brilliantly functioning quartet. France beat France and Denmark in their opening group, but lost to Tunisia when the group win was already in their pocket. In the quarterfinals, Mbappe shone in a 3–1 win over Poland.

– Overall, the picture of the game is that England is more on the ball and France is attacking, Kunnas begins.

The strengths of the teams are similar. England’s slower attacking and ball control have improved as the tournament has progressed. Yet England have still created their most dangerous spaces with quick attacks.

– In England’s slower attack, it is important that the defensive readiness remains good all the time, so that when the ball is lost, there is readiness to defend against Mbappe. At the same time, you have to be able to create a threat.

France does not press from high, but retreats with favor. In this way, it gets its opponent higher, after which France tries to attack big spaces through its speedsters Mbappe and Dembele. Griezmann is an excellent distributor of free passes.

The experienced right winger of England and Manchester City, Kyle Walker has been considered a player whose speed could be enough with Mbappe.

The match will be decided by how England’s defensive readiness remains when attacking. Correspondingly, how France’s turnovers and counterattacks work.

– The guess is that France will win that fight. However, England’s quality downstairs is not enough, even if Walker can help against Mbappe, Kunnas predicts.

Lehtola, on the other hand, predicted England to the semi-finals. In his opinion, the most interesting question is whether England’s head coach will change Gareth Southgate to three toppers and five to the defensive line. England have often used it before against top countries, although they have relied on a line of four defenders in this tournament.

Below you can watch and listen to Lehtola’s predictions about the match in more detail.