Croatia vs Morocco, FIFA World Cup 2022, Today Match Prediction

Croatia vs Morocco Match Prediction & Analysis

Croatia and Morocco have performed wonders at this World Cup, surpassing all expectations and in all likelihood living up to their wildest dreams.

Croatia have experience at this level, of course. Having reached the Final four years ago, it comes as less of a surprise that they have been able to show the quality and organisation at this level.

They have relied heavily on talented midfielders, especially Modric, and with a helping hand from extra time and penalties. However, they’ve been worth their run to the last four.

Morocco have been the story of the tournament, becoming the first nation from Africa and the Arab world to reach the final four of a World Cup.

The game against France was just a step too far for them, although they gave it as good as they got and will leave with their heads held high.

For Croatia and Morocco, it’s one final game to separate 3rd from 4th at this tournament.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Croatia Preview

FIFA Ranking: 12

Predicted Finish: 3rd 

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Luca Modric will want to end career on a high

     Very rarely lose knockout games despite Semi Final defeat

Reasons to be fearful:

     Couldn’t break Morocco down in the Group Stage

     May rotate one or two players now that the big prize has gone

In what is likely the last tournament for a number of Croatia’s key players, they have done themselves and their country proud by reaching the last four.

For Modric, Perisic, Lovren, Brozovic and the likes, the next tournament in four years may be too far on the horizon. They have certainly given their all here.

Yes, they have needed some luck along the way, and they certainly haven’t sparkled in the same way that other teams have in an attacking sense. 

But in backing up their Final appearance in 2018 with a journey to the Semi Finals here, they have cemented their golden age nicely.

Can they round off Luca Modric’s World Cup with a bronze medal?

Star Man – Luca Modric

We know that this will be his last World Cup game, and many will want to pay their respects to a man who has achieved so much. He’d love to go out with a win here.

Morocco Preview

FIFA Ranking: 22

Predicted Finish: 4th 

Reasons to be cheerful

     Have made a habit of beating big teams at this tournament

     Will want to end their best-ever World Cup on a high

Reasons to be fearful

     A number of injured players won’t take part

     A European nation has finished 3rd at the last 10 World Cups

To think that Morocco are playing a 7th game at this World Cup is a phenomenal achievement. Although it’s not the Final, the North African team has done their country, and their continent, proud.

Indeed, perhaps it will spur on other nations from Africa and the Arab world and in four years’ time we’ll see even greater representation from that part of the world reaching the latter stages of the tournament.

Here, they’ve been fantastic. Can they add Croatia to the list of teams they have beaten, that also includes Belgium, Spain and Portugal?

Against France, they gave as good as they got for large parts of the contest. They will be without Roman Saiss here, due to injury, with a number of other players facing late fitness tests.

Star Man – Youssef En-Nesyri

Morocco has been full of standout players at this tournament, although it has been En-Nesyri who has scored the goals in crucial moments to take them through.