In the FIFA World Cup 2022, the Group F journey will start with Morocco vs Croatia match this Wednesday (23rd November) night at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor.
Morocco are ready to begin their sixth World cup campaign as they are facing the last World Cup runners-up Croatia in their tournament opener.
MOR vs CRO Match Details
Match: Morocco vs Croatia
Stage: Group (F)
Date: 23rd November 2022 (Wednesday)
Time: 13:00 local time/AST (UTC+3); 15:30 IST
Venue: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
MOR vs CRO Match Preview
The CAF side Morocco (The Atlas Lions) and UEFA side Croatia (The Blazers) both are in good form at present as we can expect a tight contest. While Morocco are unbeaten in the last five matches (four wins and one draw), Croatia are going through a six-match unbeaten streak, including the latest five-match winning streak.
Morocco completely dominated in the CAF qualification rounds, where they won all the matches in the second round by scoring 20 goals and conceding only once. In the third round, the Atlas Lions faced DR Congo. In that double-leg third round, after recording a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the red shirts won by 4-1 in the second leg to book their Qatar tickets.
Between 2020 and 2021, the CAF team suffered only one defeat in 24 games, and that defeat was recorded only in a penalty shootout. Still, it will be very interesting to see how they will play under the new coach Walid Regragui, who joined this team officially on 31st August.
Meanwhile, the World Cup 2018 runners-up Croatia are determined to once again perform strongly in the World Cup. Despite their incredible last WC journey, most experts haven't a strong feeling about the Blazers. This is because of their massive ups and downs in the game after the WC 2018 edition.
However, since the World Cup qualification, the Blazers have shown incredible improvement on the field, as they lost only once in the last 16 games. They have even qualified for the 2022/23 Nations League Finals (Semi-finals & finals).
It will be the first World Cup meeting between Morocco and Croatia. Officially, they met once during the Hassan II Trophy 1996, where the Blazers had a 2-2 draw against the hosts' Atlas Lions.
Recent Form (starting from the latest)
Morocco (MOR): WDWWW
Croatia (CRO): WWWWW
MOR vs CRO Team News
(Morocco)
Anass Zaroury replaced the midfielder Amine Harit after the 25-year-old was forced to leave the WC squad due to a recent knee injury.
Meanwhile, centre-back Nayef Aguerd is reportedly recovering well after ankle surgery.
(Croatia)
Domagoj Vida give a big relief in the Croatian camp after he replaced Dejan Lovren in the second half of the last warm-up match against Saudi Arabia and completed his 100th appearance for the Blazers.
MOR vs CRO predicted starting lineups
Morocco (MOR): Yassine Bounou; Noussair Mazraoui, Romain Saïss (Captain), Nayef Aguerd, Achraf Hakimi; Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Selim Amallah; Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal
Croatia (CRO): Dominik Livaković; Josip Stanišić, Dejan Lovren, Joško Gvardiol, Borna Barišić; Luka Modrić (Captain), Marcelo Brozović, Mateo Kovačić; Nikola Vlašić, Andrej Kramarić, Ivan Perišić
MOR vs CRO Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: D Livakovic
DEF: J Stanisic, D Vida, A Hakimi, R Saiss
MID: I Perisic, L Modric, H Ziyech, S Boufal
FW: A Kramaric, Y En-Nesyri
Vice-captain: I Perisic
Captain: L Modric
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football and 2022 FIFA World Cup for upcoming matches and updates.
