Women’s World Cup Prediction: Germany vs. Morocco Women – July 24, 2023
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP PREDICTION: GERMANY vs MOROCCO WOMEN – July 24, 2023 — For the first time in the Women’s World Cup, a nation from the Arab world will compete on women’s soccer’s greatest stage. While the men’s game has seen the likes of Algeria, Egypt and Morocco itself make runs into the knockout stages, African women’s soccer has mostly been Nigeria and little else.
Tale of the Tape
But things have changed in recent years, as better funding and coaching has made the women’s side more competitive. The women finished second to South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations last year, and the Atlas Lionesses will be looking to take inspiration from both that and the men’s run to the last four at last year’s World Cup.
But they step into a baptism by fire in their opening match. They’ll battle two-time world champion Germany. The Frauen haven’t looked great leading up to the World Cup, but Germany is notorious for sleepwalking through its friendlies and then hitting the gas when the matches count for real.
Last year, the Germans won just two of their six matches before the Euros, then didn’t allow a goal until the semifinals and earned a runner-up finish to England.
Germany enters on the same streak, having won just two matches since a November win over the United States. But the world has seen this before from the Germans, who have more than proven their pedigree.
That’s why they’re seen as co-favorites alongside England to come out of the loaded half of the bracket, and why a third world title is a realistic ambition.
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Match Preview
When: Monday, July 24th at 4:30 a.m. EDT
Where: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Spread: Germany -3/Morocco +3
Moneyline: Germany -2500/Morocco +3500/Draw +1000
Totals: Over 3.5/Under 3.5
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Scouting Germany
Germany’s out to make up for the Euros. Rotten injury luck likely cost Die Frauen their chance to lift the trophy.
Germany had to play the final without midfielder Alexandra Popp. As anyone who’s seen the Germans in action knows, they’re a much more dangerous side with her on the field. The Wolfsburg forward has scored 62 goals in a German shirt, and at 32, she’s likely facing her last chance to bring home a trophy.
The next generation of German soccer stars will be feeding her the ball, as her Wolfsburg teammate Lena Oberdorf commands the German midfield.
At just 21 years of age, Oberdorf has established as one of the top midfielders in the world. She’s a big reason why Popp led the Bundesliga with 16 markers and Wolfsburg scored a league-best 75 goals in a 22-match season. As long as the German defense holds up, this side has every piece needed for a long run.
Scouting Morocco
Morocco isn’t likely to upset the established order. The Lionesses have put the seeds in place for the team to develop over the next decade, but African women’s soccer and Morocco itself aren’t likely where they need to be to challenge a side like Germany.
Ghizlane Chebbak is a solid striker when facing other African sides, but Morocco hasn’t exactly found much success outside of its continent.
In eight of their past 11 matches, Morocco has fired a blank, and the exceptions were Slovakia and Bosnia, neither of whom have ever come close to making it to the World Cup. This isn’t a side that’s shown it can find the net against quality defenses, making this a tough ask.
Match Bets
Germany -3 (-110)
The bones of 1999 Mexico, 2007 Argentina and 2015 Ivory Coast still litter the World Cup graveyard after what Germany did to them.
The Germans have a long history of destroying sides in their maiden World Cup appearance, as they won those three matches by a combined score of 27-0. With Morocco apparently offering little in way of attack, this could be a one-sided affair.
Germany -1.5 First Half (+125)
With Morocco’s attack offering little to nothing, a German clean sheet seems a foregone conclusion and provides almost no value. Instead, taking Germany to put two home in the first half looks a solid opener.
Given Germany’s long history of scoring often against overmatched sides and its need to make a statement, expect a flying start.
Final Score
Morocco is a great story, but this feels a lot like the classic 1 vs. 16 matchup in the NCAA tournament before UMBC and Fairleigh Dickinson broke the mold. The Lionesses might have a chance later against Colombia or South Korea, but there’s no surprise coming here. I’ll play Germany 5, Morocco 0 (+600).
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