Netherlands v Morocco: after an overlong group stage, the World Cup finally gets going

It's been gripping us for 20 days now. The World Cup reached a milestone last weekend with the end of the group stage. We now know the 32 teams still standing and the 12 nations that have gone out.

Although there were a few nervous moments over the qualification of our Red Devils, Belgium ultimately had it easy against a poor New Zealand side.

While we wait for our own country's round of 32, GoldenVegas Sport, the Belgian sports betting site, brings you the first big clash of the tournament: Morocco against the Netherlands. You'll find our Netherlands vs Morocco prediction below.

Morocco, the best African team in World Cup history

And as the bookmakers have worked out, the tie is finely balanced, even if Oranje start as slight favourites at odds of 2.18. That price could shift with in-play betting.

But the Atlas Lions can draw on the confidence built up since the start of the tournament, despite finishing second in their group behind Brazil.

Four years after becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, they became — against Haiti — the African side with the most wins in World Cup history (7). Can they pull off a shock and knock out the Dutch?

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: 30 June at 3am.

The first African nation to win the World Cup?

Oranje vs Atlas Lions: every football fan is looking forward to this one. All the more so between two countries so closely bound by the question of dual nationals, much like these 13 World Cup players who could have turned out for Belgium.

"All the Moroccans who aren't good enough in the Netherlands go and play for Morocco," Rafael van der Vaart said back in March.

In the Morocco squad, Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat and Anass Salah-Eddine could all have worn the Dutch shirt. But on 30 June in Monterrey, there will be no sentiment and no mercy.

What's more, Morocco fear no one. "We've moved into another dimension, the players believe in themselves and opponents respect Morocco," adds Ouahbi. "We have to believe, we have to aim for this title." Can they do it?

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: 30 June at 3am.

A BetXtra of 25% is available on every in-play bet placed on a World Cup match. A BetXtra of 50% is also available on a World Cup accumulator (min. 4 selections).