Croatia vs Morocco: 2022 World Cup, Third Place Match Preview and Dream11 Predictions

Croatia vs Morocco in the one World Cup match no team wants to contest, meeting in the third-place play-off on Saturday.

Match Details:

• Location: Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
• Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium
• Date: Saturday 17 December
• Kick-off Time:  8:30 PM IST
• Watch: Jio Cinema App, Sports 18/HD

Croatia vs Morocco: Match Preview :

Croatia come into this game on the back of a 3-0 loss to Lionel Scaloni's Argentina in the competition's semi-final. A goal from Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi and a brace from Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez secured the win for Argentina.

Morocco, on the other hand, lost 2-0 to Didier Deschamps' France in the competition's semi-final. Goals from AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani sealed the deal for France.

Team News:

Croatia:

Marcelo Brozovic was forced off at the start of the second half against Argentina with a twinge in his thigh muscle - an area which has sidelined the Inter midfielder for much of the Serie A campaign.

Dalic stressed: "We need fit players, we won't put anyone whose even eyelashes hurt." Which suggests Brozovic may not be risked. Josko Gvardiol played the semi-final with painkilling injections in his foot, putting his involvement in doubt.

Morocco:

Surely Romain Saiss' powers of recovering have been expended. Morocco's skipper limped towards the centre circle for the opening coin toss of the semi-final against France before giving in to a hamstring injury after 20 minutes. Nayef Aguerd pulled out just before kick-off with a thigh problem and Noussair Mazraoui couldn't make it to the second half after nursing an illness and a hip issue.

After losing to France, Walid Regragui lamented: "We had too many players at 60% or 70%." It will be intriguing to see how many members of the squad that pushed through the pain barrier will do so again on Saturday.

Croatia vs Morocco: Head to Head:

In two head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Croatia have won one game and drawn one.

Tottenham Hotspur star Ivan Perisic has registered three goal contributions in the tournament so far for Croatia.

Hoffenheim attacker Andrej Kramaric has scored two goals for Croatia in the competition so far.

Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech has managed two goal contributions for Morocco in the competition.

Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri has scored two goals in the World Cup for Morocco.

Predicted Line-ups:

Croatia Starting 11 (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Sutalo, Sosa; Majer, Modric, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Perisic.
Bench: Grbic, Ivusic, Erlic, Vida, Gvardiol, Barisic, Jakic, Sucic, Brozovic, Osric, Livaja, Petkovic, Budimir, Vlasic.

Morocco Starting 11 (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Dari, El Yamiq, Attiyat Allah; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal.
Bench: Munir, Tagnaouti, Benoun, Jabrane, Chair, El Khannouss, Sabiri, Abde, Zaroury, Aboukhlal, Hamdallah.

CRO vs MOR: Dream11 Predictions:

For more Croatia vs Morocco news, follow Sportz Point.