World Cup last-16: France vs Morocco – Match preview, live stream, kick-off time, prediction, team news, lineups
France and Morrocco will battle it out for the final place in the last-8 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup on Tuesday at 12:00.
France topped their group by collecting seven points, while Morocco advanced to the knockout rounds at the expense of Germany.
- Match 55: France vs Morocco (12:00, Adelaide) – BBC
- 2023 Women’s World Cup: What is the Round of 16? Who’s facing who, when and how to watch
Match previews
We expect this to be a lively match with plenty of goals coming in. France are the heavy favourites but this has been a tournament full of surprises – and if this tournament is anything to go by, Fifa rankings don’t mean much in this highly competitive edition. The winner of this match will face Australia in the quarter-finals.
France previews
France were held to a goalless draw against Jamaica in their opening game of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. But their second group game saw them claim a crucial 2-1 win over Brazil before an exciting 6-3 win over Panama.
France reached the semi-finals of last year’s EUROs and will be hoping to go deep into the competition. They will head into the knockout round off the back of fine results, having just lost one of their last 11 internationals.
Morocco preview
Morocco’s tournament started with a 6-0 defeat to Germany but were able to pick themselves up and secure a narrow 1-0 win over South Korea in their second match.
Their final group game against Colombia saw another 1-0 win and with South Korea holding Germany to a 1-1 draw – forcing Germany out at the group stages – Morocco were able to advance.
They will be hoping that there is a little more story for them to write and will attempt to beat a French side that sits 67 places above them in the Fifa world rankings.
Team News
After being rested for the final group game, France captain Wendie Renard and the country’s all-time leading scorer Eugenie Le Sommer are expected to return to the lineup.
Herve Renard also decided to leave Sakina Karchaoui, Sandie Toletti and Kenza Dali on the bench against Panama, with the trio one yellow card away from suspension.
Maelle Lakrar has played every minute of the tournament, but the defender is a doubt for Tuesday’s contest due to a thigh issue.
As for their opponents, Morocco head coach Reynald Pedros could be tempted to select the same lineup that started the win over Colombia.
Nesrryne El Chad will feature in central defence alongside Nouhaila Ben Zina, while Hanane Ait El Haj and Zineb Redouani are set to feature as the two full-backs.
Ibtissam Jraidi and Lahmari have both scored a goal apiece at the tournament, and the forward pairing will be looking to add to their tallies in Tuesday’s last-16 tie.
France Women possible starting lineup:
Peyraud-Magnin; Perisset, Lakrar, Renard, Karchaoui; Toletti, Geyoro, Dali; Diani, Bacha, Le Sommer
Morocco Women possible starting lineup:
Errmichi; El Haj, El Chad, Ben Zina, Redouani; Ouzraoui, Nakkach, Chebbak, Tagnaout; Jraidi, Lahmari
WTX Sports predicts France 3-0 Morocco
We can’t imagine this going any other way, we expect a lot of goals and all in France’s favour.
