Joralexray Garcia
With only four teams left in the fight for top honors at Qatar 2022, we are sure to see some exciting semifinals after one of the most surprising quarterfinals in the history of the competition.
That’s why here, at JefeBet, we bring you a summary of each of the matches that will be played in this instance, which could mark an unprecedented milestone in the almost 100 years of the World Cup.
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Predictions, Odds and Betting Previews for each of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Semifinal Matches
Argentina (-127) vs Croatia (+470) / Tuesday, December 13 / 2:00 PM E.T.
Argentina has been gradually rediscovering its best self after losing their World Cup debut against Saudi Arabia (2-1). After defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in a game that was extremely intense on and off the field, Argentina has recovered its hopes of winning its long-awaited third World Cup and its first since 1986.
This has been the best Argentina National Team of the last decades, even surpassing the one that reached the World Cup final in Brazil 2014, with Messi much more in tune with his teammates and being a true leader, as he demonstrated to the press after the match against the Netherlands.
However, they will face a tough opponent such as Croatia, which few expected to reach this stage for the second consecutive edition. Despite achieving that feat, though, the Vatreni have not won a direct elimination match in the last two World Cups,having reached this stage after beating Japan on penalty kicks in the round of 16 and super-favorites Brazil by the same means in the quarterfinals, with goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic the hero on both occasions.
In fact, eight of Croatia’s last nine knockout matches at the EURO or World Cup have gone to extra time.
[Argentina vs Croatia FIFA World Cup Semifinals betting preview here]
France (-175) vs Morocco (+630) / Wednesday, Dec. 14 / 2:00 PM E.T.
France continues on course to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups in 60 years since Brazil in 1962. The reigning world champions struggled but managed to secure their place in the semifinals after defeating another European contender and powerhouse, England, by a score of 2-1. However, they need to get back to their best if they do not want to jeopardize their presence in the final.
Although he didn’t score against England, Kylian Mbappé remains the tournament’s top scorer with five goals in as many games played, along with two assists.
For their part, Morocco are already part of the history not only of this edition, but of the entire competition, having become the first team from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reach the semifinals of a World Cup. In order to reach this far, Morocco had to defeat two favored and storied teams, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Spain, while remarkably maintaining a clean sheet in both contests.
Much of that success they owe to their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, whose only goal so far was an own goal against Canada in the group stage.
[France vs Morocco FIFA World Cup Semifinals betting preview here]
Odds provided exclusively by PointsBet.
