World Cup 2022: Morocco – Croatia 0-0 – start to runners-up 2018 in Qatar

Croatia, runners-up four years ago, started the World Cup with a goalless draw against well-rehearsed Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium.

Only four players after their last loss to France in 2018 started this game and they consistently lacked the attacking spark but came closest through Nikola Vlasic’s top effort.

Morocco were impressive but failed to create clear chances.

Belgium play Canada in the other Group F game on Wednesday at 19:00 GMT.

Croatia, 12th in the FIFA World Rankings, predictably dominated possession but failed to create chances or beat Morocco, who have lost just two of their last 40 games in three years.

The best chance in a game with just two shots on goal each side came in first-half stoppage time when Vlasic deflected a cross off the left wing towards goal, but the West Ham midfielder, on loan to Torino, was denied by Yassine Bounou’s right leg, who spread to close the angle.

Morocco, in 22nd place, came closest as Noussair Mazraoui followed with a deflected shot and saved a header from behind.

Paris St-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi also put Dominik Livakovic to the test, but the Croatian goalkeeper contained his 35-metre shot with ease.

It was a game mostly played in the middle third of the field, with both sides possibly fearing their chances of progressing to the K.

The goalless draw is the third of this World Cup after Denmark’s opening games against Tunisia and Poland against Mexico on Tuesday. There was only one in the entire 2018 tournament in Russia.

Croatia meets Canada in the next game on Sunday (16:00 GMT), while Morocco take on Belgium on the same day (13:00).

player of the game

Hakimi Achraf Hakimi

Morocco

squad number2player’s nameHakimi

Squad number7Player’s nameZiyech

Squad number3Player’s nameMazraoui

Squad number19Player nameEn-Nesyri

Squad number6Player nameSaïss

Squad number4Player nameS Amrabat

squad number5player nameAguerd

Squad number25Player nameAttiat-Allah

Squad number9Player nameHamdallah

Squad number11Player nameSabiri

squad number15player nameAmallah

Squad number16Player nameEzzalzouli

squad number8player nameOunahi

squad number17player nameBoufal

Squad number1Player nameBono

Croatia

Squad number10Player nameModric

Squad number4Player namePerisic

Squad number22Player nameJuranovic

Squad number8Player nameKovacic

squad number9player namekramaric

Squad number20Player nameGvardiol

Squad number11Player nameBrozovic

squad number1player nameLivakovic

squad number13player nameVlasic

squad number6player nameLovren

squad number19player nameSosa

Squad number15Player namePasalic

Squad number7Player nameMajer

squad number18player nameOrsic

Squad number14Player nameLivaja

lineups

Morocco

Formation 4-3-3

1Bono

2Hakimi5Aguerd6Saïss3Mazraoui

8Ounahi4S Amrabat15Amallah

7Ziyech19En-Nesyri17Boufal

1Bono2Hakimi5Aguerd6Saïss3MazraouiSubstituted forAttiat-Allahat 60’minutes8OunahiSubstituted forSabiriat 82’minutes4S AmrabatBooked at 78mins15Amallah7Ziyech19En-NesyriSubstituted forHamdallahat 81’minutes17BoufalSubstituted forEzzalzouliat 65’minutesSubstitutes9Hamdallah10Zaroury11Sabiri12Mohamedi13Chair14Aboukhlal16Ezzalzouli18El Yamiq20Dari21Cheddira22Tagnaouti23El Khannouss24Benoun25Attiat-Allah26Jabrane

Croatia

Formation 4-3-3

1Livakovic

22Juranovic6Lovren20Gvardiol19Sosa

10 Modric 11 Brozovic 8 Kovacic

13Vlasic9Kramaric4Perisic

1Livakovic22Juranovic6Lovren20Gvardiol19Sosa10Modric11Brozovic8KovacicSubstituted forMajerat 79’minutes13VlasicSubstituted forPasalicat 45’minutes9KramaricSubstituted forLivajaat 71’minutes4PerisicSubstituted forOrsicat 90’minutesSubstitutes2Stanisic3Barisic5Erlic7Majer12Grbic14Livaja15Pasalic16Petkovic17Budimir18Orsic21Vida23Ivusic24Sutalo25Sucic26Jakic

Referee: Fernando Rapallini

Number of visitors: 59,407

live text

Game ends, Morocco 0, Croatia 0.

End of the second half, Morocco 0, Croatia 0.

Marko Livaja (Croatia) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Selim Amallah (Morocco).

Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco).

Luka Modric (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Morocco).

Foul by Borna Sosa (Croatia).

Hakim Ziyech (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution Croatia. Mislav Orsic replaces Ivan Perisic.

Josip Juranovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Yahya Attiat-Allah (Morocco).

Substitution, Morocco. Abdelhamid Sabiri replaces Azzedine Ounahi.

Substitution, Morocco. Abderrazak Hamdallah replaces Youssef En-Nesyri.

Foul by Josko Gvardiol (Croatia).

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Handball by Selim Amallah (Morocco).

Substitution Croatia. Lovro Majer replaces Mateo Kovacic.

Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

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