Spain v Morocco

Spain need to equal or better Portugal's result on Monday to top the group, and it's well worth doing that given how the knock out stage looks like working out. Currently, based on best guesses, we could well see France, Brazil, Germany and England all in the top half of the draw, while the bottom looks reaonably likely to house nothing much stronger than Belgium and Spain. In fact, if I was Gareth Southgate, I'd be having a very good look at trying to finish 2nd in their group.....

For Spain, the equation is simple, and they should expect to see off a Morocco side with nothing to play for - as evident in the bookmaker quotes of 4/11 about them getting the job done.

Morocco did take the game to Portugal when the pair met, but ultimately ended up on the receiving end of a 1-0 defeat, and the fact that they chased the game for 86 minutes almost certainly had a bearing on the stats we saw at the end. They didnt look to have too much to threaten Portugal with when all was said and done.

There doesn't look to be an easy angle in on the match betting, so perhaps the FIFA MOTM market offers a better opportunity. So far we've seen a pretty solid pattern to winning this, by virtue of the fact that it's an internet vote. You either need to score a goal (and probably the most goals of any player), OR you need to be very famous. That's how this award goes out.

That means a Spain player should win this, and one who scores goals. Diego Costa has already claimed one MOTM (in the Iran match). He's 9/2 to get voted MOTM in this one, yet odds-on to find himself on the scoresheet. He's surely too long in this one based on that evidence.

1pt Diego Costa to win FIFA MOTM

#Football