France vs Morocco Prediction: French-born Bouaddi backed for Les Bleus booking

After meeting in the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, France and Morocco face off once more in football's most prestigious international tournament, this time in the quarter-finals at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Thursday (4pm local, 9pm BST, ITV 1).

Below are my France vs Morocco predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

France head coach Didier Deschamps could name an unchanged starting XI following his side's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the last 16. It wasn't pretty, with the South American side digging in bravely before Kylian Mbappe's 70th-minute penalty proved to be the difference.

Desire Doue, who came on for Bradley Barcola in the 61st minute against La Albirroja and earned Les Bleus that vital spot-kick, is a potential starter, however.

Aurelien Tchouameni (thigh) and Marcus Thuram (groin) missed out last Saturday and are both doubts for Thursday's game.

World Cup Odds

Ismael Saibari was withdrawn in the 22nd minute of Morocco's 3-0 victory over Canada in the last 16 and could miss out against France with a hamstring injury. Soufiane Rahimi, who came on for the three-goal forward and rounded off the scoring in Houston, is likely to take his place in the starting XI on Thursday.

Chadi Riad was absent against Canada with a knee issue, but the Crystal Palace defender could return to action here at the expense of Redouane Halhal.

France vs Morocco Odds

France are 4/7 favourites to get the job done inside regulation time, implying a 63.6% probability of success, with Morocco 5/1, or a 16.7% chance, and the draw offered at 3/1.

Les Bleus are 1/4 to win the tie by any means, with the Atlas Lions 11/4 in the same market.

Betfred's Price Boosts for this game include France to Win, France Most Corners & France Most Shots on Target at 6/4 (was 6/5).

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Player to Be Carded (Sub Switch) - Ayyoub Bouaddi (MAR) @ 21/10

Narrative time.

Senlis-born Ayyoub Bouaddi has spent his entire life in France, rising through the ranks at LOSC Lille and making 27 appearances for Les Bleus across U16 to U21 level, captaining the latter side.

However, the 18-year-old, whose parents are Moroccan, officially switched his international allegiance in May to the Atlas Lions, making his senior international debut in a 4-0 friendly thrashing of Madagascar on June 2.

Bouaddi is an elegant but combative midfielder, picking up 12 yellows and two reds across 63 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille, adding a further four yellows and one red across 25 European outings.

The teenager hasn't been booked yet for Morocco, but a reunion with the country of his birth could reignite the fire that we've seen for his club side over the past few seasons.

Michael Olise and Manu Kone were fouled three times and twice, respectively, in France's last-16 success over Paraguay, and Bouaddi is likely to be in close contact with both players on Thursday, increasing his chances of going into the referee's notebook.

Betred's Sub Switch rolls your bet to the oncoming substitute, so you stay in the game, even when your player doesn’t.

Player 1+ Shots On Target (Sub Switch) - Azzedine Ounahi (MAR) @ 17/10

Azzedine Ounahi didn't take a single shot in Morocco's first two group games against Brazil and Scotland, both of which he started, before try his luck for the first time in the tournament in the 89th minute against Haiti after coming on 19 minutes earlier.

The 26-year-old was restored to the starting XI for the Atlas Lions' round-of-32 tie with the Netherlands, managing just one attempt at goal, which missed the target.

Ounahi kept his place for Morocco's last-16 tie with Canada and repaid his manager's faith handsomely, scoring with his only two shots of the game in the 50th and 82nd minute.

The former Olympique Marseille midfielder, who starred at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, registered 19 shots on target from 24 La Liga appearances for Girona last season, averaging one every 90 minutes and scoring five times for the relegated side.

With confidence flowing through his veins, he's a good bet to register at least one shot on target against France at an enticing 17/10.