A Look Ahead At The Match Between Morocco And Croatia
There is always one victor in the FIFA World Cup and thirty-nine losers. But of the 31 teams, the finalists’ loss will be the one they regret the most. To come that close to entering football legend yet fall just short is a tough pill to take. Croatia, who lost to France in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, will begin their tournament comeback against Morocco.
The Vatreni, who came so close to winning the World Cup, are back to take the last bow. The team that manager Zlatko Dalic has assembled is tough, and they have the ability to repeat or improve upon their previous World Cup performance. Luka Modric, who is maturing like a good wine and led Real Madrid to a domestic and European double last season, is captaining the squad again this World Cup.
They also have a number of promising young players, like Lovro Majer, who is often regarded as Modric’s successor. They also have one of the top young defenders in Josko Gvardiol, and a promising young attacker in Luka Sucic of Red Bull Salzburg.
Defense-oriented bombers
It will be Morocco, a squad known for its solid defense, that stands in their way. Manager Vahid Halilhodzic was let go by the Moroccan football federation, which created a controversy. Halilhodzic had a rocky relationship with the team’s players, particularly Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui. Walid Regragui, a former national team player, now controls the squad’s future. The 45-year-old coach has won trophies before, having led Wydad AC of Morocco to the CAF Champions League in 2021-22.
Members of the team’s star powerhouses include Romain Saiss of Besiktas, Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, and Youssef En-Nesyri of Sevilla. Despite having such a talented squad, they have consistently underachieved, most recently losing in the quarter-finals of the AFCON against Egypt.
Team news for Morocco vs. Croatia
Regragui has chosen a 26-man squad, which includes some outstanding athletes, to compete in the FIFA World Cup. Amine Harit is the only major player to have missed the journey to Qatar. The injury occurred in the midfielder’s last regular season game before the World Cup, a loss to AS Monaco for Marseille. This leaves a huge crater right in the heart of the park in Morocco. Anass Zaroury, who plays for Burnley in the EFL Championship, has been called up to take his position in the team.
Team Lineup Predictions for Morocco: Bounou; Hakimi; Aguerd; Saiss; Mazraoui; Amallah; Amrabat; Ounahi; Ziyech; En-Nesyri; Boufal.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD: CROATIA
DALIC GAVE STRONG CLUE THAT KRAMARIC WILL START AGAINST MOROCCO, WITH THE ONLY SELECTION CONFUSION REGARDING WHO WILL PLAY RW DEPENDING ON WHO WILL LINK UP BEST WITH HIM. SIGH.
18 NOVEMBER 2022 — RICHARD WILSON (@HYFPRW)
Meanwhile, Croatia enter this year’s FIFA World Cup with a roster that has just the right mix of seasoned veterans and promising young players. The team’s lack of injury worries is a major positive development. Their defense will depend primarily on Gvardiol and the latest phenomenon at left back for VFB Stuttgart, Borna Sosa. The Croatians seem to be lacking in two key areas: a dependable goalkeeper and a steady goalscorer. Dominik Livakovic of Dinamo Zagreb will start between the posts, while Andrej Kramaric of Hoffenheim will man the nine for the German club.
Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Kramaric, Perisic; are the expected starters for Croatia.
Gamechangers
Morocco’s participation in this year’s World Cup is an attempt to ease the wounds of their loss in 2014. With a defeat to Iran, the Atlas Lions finished with only one point. However, they are one of the tournament’s dark horses and have the kind of talent that, on their day, can beat anybody. Among them is Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea, who will serve as the team’s primary goal scorer and a key offensive contributor.
Luka Modric, a 33-year-old midfielder, earned the Ballon d’Or after Croatia made it to the World Cup final. It now seems that four years later, Modric is even better than he was back then. While he may not be as nimble as he once was, his positional knowledge has only increased, making him a more effective Regista in any game. Matteo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic will provide the defensive assistance the Croat needs. Lovro Majer is another key player for Croatia who may be used as a sub with a big effect.
Predictions for Morocco vs. Croatia
Both teams need a win to get out of their group, which also includes Belgium and Canada. As a result, both Morocco and Croatia will be hoping to get off to a strong start and earn a victory that would pave the way to the knockout round.
But the Croatians have more skill all over the field, which will prove decisive. football thinks Croatia will win by a score of 2-1.
