Morocco vs Spain Prediction: Both teams have to be at full strength

Two incredible sides, Morocco and Spain, will lock horns in the semifinal stage of the 2024 Olympics Men's Football at Stade Velodrome in Marseille. The two teams had a very decent performance in the quarterfinal stage. How will they approach this game? Below, I will take a close look at this game and make predictions. 

Morocco showed they can not be written off in the 2024 Paris Olympics, as they keep their incredible performances intact. With two wins out of three in their group-stage games against Argentina and Iraq, this team thrashed the USA 4-0 in the quarterfinals. 

In their game against the Americans, Morocco took the lead in the 29th minute of the game from the spot, thanks to Soufiane Rahimi’s strike from the penalty, with the halftime ending 1-0. However, Ilias Akhomach doubled the lead for Morocco in the 63rd minute of the second half, and goals from Achraf Hakimi and El Mehdi Maouhoub in the 70th and 90+1 minutes of the game were enough to see this team secure a big win in that encounter. 

Winners of last year's Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations, where they beat Egypt to take the trophy, could face a possible re-match with the Pharaohs in the gold medal game - but a strong Spain side stand in their way.

Spain showed they are huge favorites to win the 2024 Paris Olympics, having secured their third win in four matches. In their opening game, La Roja started with a 1-2 win over Uzbekistan and then defeated the Dominican Republic in game 2, securing a 1-3 win. However, despite Samu Omorodion scoring a late goal for this side against Egypt in game three of the group stage, they suffered a defeat, having conceded two goals earlier. 

In their quarterfinal encounter, where they played a Japan team that had a perfect group stage record with clean sheets, Spain got three past them. In that encounter, Spain took the lead just 11 minutes into the game, with Barcelona youngster Fermin Lopez scoring from outside the box. In the meantime, Lopez got his second goal of the day from another strike from outside the box, this time, Sergio Gomez laying a pass to him from the corner spot. With Abel Ruiz’s goal in the 86th minute, Spain secured their first clean sheet in this tournament. 

Morocco Possible Starting Lineup:

Mohamedi; Hakimi, Boukamir, El Azzouzi, El Ouahdi; Targhalline, Richardson; Akhomach, El Khannouss, Ezzalzouli; Rahimi

Spain Possible Starting Lineup:

Tenas; Pubill, Cubarsi, Garcia, Miranda; Barrios, Baena; D. Lopez, F. Lopez, Gomez; Ruiz

This is really a crucial encounter for these two good teams, and we can expect nothing but top performance from them. Morocco has been very hot in this series, defeating top nations, while Spain cruised easily past an in-form nation like Japan. Looking at the quality of offense of the two teams, a bet on goals is the best option. Also, the Spanish team has more quality in their squad than Morocco, and with the difference expected to be individual difference, I am backing Spain to win.