World Cup 2018: Spain v Morocco prediction, team news and preview as 2010 champions look to seal last-16 place
But if Morocco pull off an upset with a win and Iran beat Portugal, then the 2010 champions could be sent packing
SPAIN have stuttered, rather than strolled, their way to four points, yet top spot in Group B is far from guaranteed - in fact neither is qualification itself.
They must better Portugal’s result against Iran to seal it, with the two sides dead level on four apiece, with an identical goal difference.
Morocco are already out, but although a shock win can’t save them, it could spell the end for Spain, if Iran upset the odds in the other game.
The nation expects
Spain have played some fantastic football in flashes, without setting the tournament alight.
They will be hoping to finally string it all together.
Morocco’s hopes of causing a shock lie in tatters, but they if they stun the favourites, it would still be a World Cup to remember for the Africans.
Key battles/star men
Diego Costa has been on fire for Spain, hitting nine goals in his last nine international starts. If he is in similar mood, there will be no surprise here.
Ayoub El Kaabi was tipped for big things in Russia after scoring for fun in his rise through the lower leagues. He has one more chance to live up to the hype.
Weakest links
As ever Spain played some fantastic stuff in their first two games, but have looked dodgy at the back at times. That has to change fast or someone will make them pay.
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Morocco may have lost both, but have not been embarrassed in either, and will hope they get a change of luck to salvage pride.
Likely line-ups and teamtalk
Stop-gap boss Fernando Hierro could bring in Marco Asensio alongside Costa and axe Lucas Vazquez as he chases goals to seal top spot.
Spain: De Gea; Carvajal, Pique, Ramos, Jordi Alba; Silva, Busquets, Iniesta, Isco; Asensio, Costa
Herve Renard will go with his strongest side rather than giving squad players a chance with nothing at stake, as he is determined to regain some pride.
Morocco: El Kajoui; Dirar, Benatia, Da Costa, Hakimi; El Ahmadi, Boussoufa; N.Amrabat, Belhanda, Ziyach; El Kaabi
Best bet
Morocco were unlucky not to get anything from their 1-0 defeat to Portugal, which meant they cannot progress to the knockout stages.
If the African side come out and attack, that could play into Spain's hands and
Fact me
- Spain and Morocco have faced other just twice before – a two-legged qualification play-off for World Cup 1962, with Spain winning 1-0 away and 3-2 at home.
- Spain have won three of their four World Cup matches against African opponents (L1), scoring 11 goals and never fewer than two per game.
- Morocco have lost just one of their last four final group stage matches (W2 D1), winning 3-0 against Scotland in 1998 - their most recent World Cup.
- Morocco have already been eliminated from the 2018 World Cup; they have now been eliminated at the group stage in four of their five World Cup campaigns, only progressing in the 1986 tournament.
3Spain can qualify with a draw against MoroccoCredit: EPA - Morocco have lost four of their last six World Cup matches against European opposition (W1 D1), losing against Portugal most recently (1-0 in MD2).
- Should they lose this match, it will be only the second time that Morocco have lost all of their World Cup group matches in a single campaign, having previously done so in 1994.
- Spain have finished top of their group in three of the last four World Cup tournaments (before 2018), the only exception in this run is in 2014 when they finished third.
- Spain have won their final group game in each of the last eight World Cup tournaments, a run stretching back to 1986.
- Morocco have fired in more shots than their opposition in each of their last six World Cup defeats (v Portugal and Iran in 2018; Brazil in 1998; Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Belgium in 1994).
- Striker Diego Costa has scored nine goals in his last nine international starts for Spain.
