Portugal have a fully-fit squad to choose from although Bruno Alves could be preferred to Jose Fonte in defence.
Sporting Lisbon winger Bruno Fernandes underwhelmed on his World Cup debut against Spain and may be replaced by Gelson Martins or Joao Mario.
Morocco have an injury crisis at right-back, with Nordin Amrabat ruled out with concussion following a clash of heads in the defeat to Iran.
One week in and this is already gearing up to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup. Arriving in Russia with a point to prove having scored just three times overall in three previous tournaments, he doubled that tally in one game against Spain. That Portugal got a draw from a match in which Spain were largely dominant was down almost solely to him.
Aside from rubbing salt in the wounds of their Iberian rivals following the sacking of Spain coach Julen Lopetegui, Ronaldo’s late equaliser puts Portugal in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stage if they beat Morocco, in just the second meeting between the two nations.
However, a small but significant portion of history is on Morocco’s side. They beat Portugal 3-1 in the group stage of the 1986 World Cup; it was Morocco’s first ever win at the tournament and Portugal’s only World Cup loss against African opposition.
It is a feat the Atlas Lions need to repeat; a second loss of this tournament, coupled with a positive result in the game between Spain and Iran, and Morocco are out.
Head-to-head
Portugal
Morocco
Come om Morocco give CR7 a bloody nose.
Commentators curse strikes again
Ronaldo scores 1-0 Portugal.
Haha…you fucked up there Phil. That’s a nasty stain on Blouseman’s shirt early on. 
The female commentator makes Hoddle and co look the utter clueless morons they really are.
Just a damned shame her actual tone of voice is identical to that of my ex wife when she was (as always) moaning at me.
Lol. The male commentator cannot get a word in edgeways!
Why are Morocco, as the designated away team, playing in Portugal’s colours?
Are they trying to confuse us?
Well, you wouldn’t have been confused if we only had one thread
The Moroccans are very poor and as a gesture of goodwill the Portugese lent them there home kit
is the only way to explain it.
Martin Keown…
How does that NOT go to VAR? If they are noot reviewing that foul on ROnaldo then the system is really wrong.
It is either a apenalty or he has to book Ronaldo and from behind the goal it was a clear foul, wtf?
I bloody NAILED that song at Karaoke last night. In the key of flat obviously
I will make a formal “Statement” about Vicki Sparks.
Technically I thought her commentary was superb. She didn’t over talk, was knowledgeable.
My issue was the tone/nature of her voice. She simply does not have a good enough voice for commentary, I quipped that she sounded like my ex wife. It was that almost nasal twang that was annoying.
We don’t get to hear him very often as the EPL TV have their own commentators but Vicki for me was in the Jonathon Pearce class of commentators. Knowledgeable, passionate technically precise but simply SOUND awful.
All for women commentating, there are some very good (and bad) ones doing creicket these days. A football commentary should be as smooth as silk and slide along with the game to add to it’s atmosphere & feelings. It shouldn’t grate on you. Barry Davies and David Coleman flowed, John Champion and Ian Darke flow, John Motson was just on the annoying side of flowing. They should be artists not technicians.
Vicki was a grater not an artist
Sorry. 2/10
Time to pay up Dan … I believe the quantity was five of your fancy pound notes. Just remember it is for the lickle kiddies.
SCD
Paid.
Stupid bloody world cup.
Stupid arse bloody betting on Morocco.
Stupid Ronaldo.