France vs Morocco

France go into Thursday's quarter-final as 3/5 favourites, but Morocco arrive as anything but makeweight opposition. The Atlas Lions have already dumped the Netherlands out of the tournament and outplayed Brazil for large spells, and they head into this game on a 26-match run without defeat. Below is a three-leg bet builder built around the patterns both sides have shown throughout this World Cup.

Bet Builder: Digne to be Booked, Olise 3+ Shots, Mazraoui 2+ Fouls Won

France vs Morocco Bet Builder Tips

Leg 1: Lucas Digne to be Booked

Morocco do the vast majority of their damage down France's left flank, with Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz combining to make that side responsible for 46% of Morocco's attacking play - the second-highest share of any team left in the competition. That puts Lucas Digne directly in the firing line all evening.

Both players are difficult to contain cleanly. Diaz has drawn 1.6 fouls per game across the tournament, while Hakimi has drawn 2.8 - the tenth-most of any player at the World Cup - giving Morocco's right side a combined 4.4 fouls won per match. Hakimi in particular has been fouled at least twice in eight consecutive appearances, a run that shows just how often defenders are forced into scrappy, mistimed challenges against him.

Digne fits that pattern himself: he's picked up a foul in eight straight games. Matched up against two of the tournament's most fouled attackers, there's a strong case he adds a yellow card to that run here.

Leg 2: Michael Olise 3+ Shots

Olise has been one of France's most dangerous outlets in the final third, and his underlying shot numbers back that up. He's gone over 2.5 shots in three of his last four World Cup appearances, and his output across his last 12 competitive starts for France - 0, 6, 3, 3, 2, 3, 1, 3, 2, 4 - shows a player who reaches three-plus shots more often than not once he's settled into a game.

He isn't reliant on clear-cut chances either; his willingness to shoot from range and drive at defenders means he generates attempts through his own movement as much as through team play. Against a Morocco side committed to defending deep and compact, that self-sufficiency in front of goal makes 3+ shots a realistic ask.

Leg 3: Noussair Mazraoui 2+ Fouls Won

Mazraoui has drawn 2.03 fouls per 90 minutes across his last 20 international appearances and has already been fouled six times in four matches at this World Cup - solid numbers that get a significant boost from the opponent in front of him.

France like to press high and win the ball back quickly, which tends to invite exactly the kind of rushed, mistimed challenges that lead to free-kicks. Mazraoui also likes to carry the ball forward from deep rather than sit passively, and going up against a front line featuring Jules Koundé, Ousmane Dembélé and potentially Olise cutting inside onto his flank, he should face heavy defensive pressure throughout. Two fouls won looks a fair line given both his recent output and the matchup.