Morocco have been in strong scoring touch in the lead-up to the World Cup, having netted in each of the five pre-tournament friendly matches they have played.

These included a 1-1 draw against an Ecuador side that qualified ahead of Brazil in their CONMEBOL group. They have scored in 28 of their last 30 recognised FIFA internationals.

Brazil, meanwhile, have conceded 1+ goals in five successive games, plus 10 of their last 11 that have not been played at home.

After a tepid qualifying campaign, Brazil have been a whole lot more entertaining in their pre-tournament friendlies, suggesting that Carlo Ancelotti’s side could open up for the tournament proper.

Their last four internationals have produced 18 goals (4.5 per game), with each fixture yielding at least three goals. With Morocco’s five pre-competition warm-ups also all bringing at least 2 goals, this is a fixture that promises excitement.

When these sides last met in 2023, there were 3 goals as Morocco came out on top 2-1.

Slovak referee Slavko Vincic is in charge of this fixture and is known to be a match official who officiates matches by going to his pocket often.

Across the 26 matches he has overseen this season, he has shown 109 cards at a rate of 4.19 per game. Brazil’s games in qualifying averaged 4.28 cards per game while Morocco’s were only slightly less busy for referees, with 4.00 cards per match.

The Selecao had 78% of their matches hit a minimum of three cards, while that figure rose to 88% with their North African opponents.

Morocco averaged a healthy 5.0 shots on target per game in qualifying, mustering at least three efforts on their opponents’ goal in 88% of their matches.

This form has continued into their pre-tournament friendlies, with five shots on target against a strong Norway side after having nine against Madagascar a few days earlier.

Brazil’s defence has not exactly been robust either. They conceded 3.17 shots on target on average, and while this figure is inflated by two games in which they conceded 10, they conceded 3+ in four of their last six outings.

In a recent friendly with Panama, they gave up nine shots on target to their opponents.

Raphinha was eclipsed by only four players when it came to shots on target in CONMEBOL qualifying, with the Barcelona winger mustering 16 efforts at a rate of 1.37 per 90 minutes.

He featured in 13 different matches across the campaign and mustered at least one shot on target in 10 of these. A high shot count has been a feature of his play all season.

He averages 4.24 shots per 90 with Barca, and that has translated into 1.57 shots on target.

Given that Brazil won only two qualifiers away from home in nine attempts, the price for Morocco to take something from their opening game is a big one.

The Atlas Lions have only nine full senior international matches since the last World Cup, with their latest defeat coming back in January 2024 at AFCON.

They are on a 32-match undefeated streak in matches through 90 minutes, while they also won their previous meeting against Brazil shortly after the last World Cup.

Brazil saw 2+ cards in 13 of their 18 qualifying matches and ranked 4th in CONMEBOL for overall cards with 40 across their 18 games.

By contrast, Morocco’s opponents in qualifying were shown 3+ cards in six of their eight matches.

Referee Slavko Vincic has been appointed to officiate this game, with the Slovak referee not exactly known for going light on the cards: he has shown 109 in 26 games this season – 4.19 per game.

Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz is the player that Morocco will most look to for attacking inspiration, having carried their challenge during AFCON earlier this year.

He had 10 shots on target in that competition, which was more than twice that of any other member of their World Cup squad.

He hit the target at the rate of 1.54 per 90 and had at least one shot on target in six of the seven fixtures he played in that tournament.

He had two shots on target in the recent friendly with Norway, having had one against Madagascar.

No Morocco player picked up more fouls than the Manchester United defender during their run to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, with Mazraoui on the end of 20 indiscretions from opponents.

This was a rate of 2.9 per 90 minutes. He finished the competition with a run of six successive games in which he had drawn at least two fouls, while he was fouled 3+ times in five of these games.

He will play left-back here, meaning Lucas Paqueta is a potential direct opponent, with the former West Ham man committing 2.7 fouls per 90 in qualifying.