The fourth day of the 2022 World Cup started with another surprising result as Morocco managed to draw 0-0 against 2018 finalists Croatia. Morocco totally deserved this result and played a great game, supported by a great number of fans at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha. Croatia might have started off better the had an opportunity to score the opening goal with Ivan Perisic, but Morocco found a way to prevent Croatia from pressing their advantage and defended well on their right side to nullify Croatia's left.
Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech were dangerous and created some opportunities to score the potential first goal of the match, but Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was always careful enough and saved his side twice in the second half. Morocco can be proud about their performance and are now totally in the race to go through the next round.
Later on Wednesday Belgium and Canada will play their opening match of the World Cup (complete standings) and as of now Croatia and Morocco share the first place in the group stage with one point each. On Sunday Morocco will play against Belgium at 8 a.m. ET (complete schedule), while Croatia will face Canada at 11 a.m.
An historical performance by Morocco! It's 0-0 at the end of the opening match of the Group F between Morocco and Croatia. This is going to be a very open group stage, with Canada and Belgium playing later today.
Both teams made some changes in the teams to find new solutions and try to win the match. Ten minutes to go and still 0-0 as of now.
Another chance for Morocco with Achraf Hakimi who had an interesting opportunity with a free-kick but Livakovic was careful enough to save the attempt of the Psg player.
Mazraoui had a chance to score but his header was saved by Livakovic. The African side started well this second half, but Croatia are also very dangerous when they are attacking. Mazraoui in the same occasion got injured and he's forced to a substitution.
The second half started, let's find out if we can see some goals in this match! Croatia have subbed off Vlasic, who was replaced by Atalanta's midfielder Mario Pasalic.
Nothing much really happened in the last minutes and the first half ended 0-0.
The tactical systems of the two sides are showing that the game will be likely decided where Hakimi and Perisic play. As of now the current Psg player is playing well defensively and also creating a lot of problems to the Croatian defense with Ziyech in the same side of the pitch. Not many chances for now, but it'a nice game to watch.
We've got a game here. Morocco are very well organized and found a way to get into the Croatian box twice in the past five minutes but didn't have a real chance yet.
The 2018 finalists had a better start of the match and are pushing to score the opening goal of the game. No chances yet but Morocco are struggling to keep the ball.
The game has now started, let's see how it goes!
Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah; Ziyech, En Nesyri, Boufal.
Croatia XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Perisic; Kramaric.
Morocco and Croatia have only ever met once before, in the semi-final of the Hassan II Trophy. That game, played in Casablanca, took place on December eleventh, 1996, and ended in a 2-2 draw only for Croatia to progress to the final after a penalty shoot-out.
Luka Modrić, despite recently turning 37, remains one of the finest footballers in the game. The Real Madrid maestro was key to their victory in La Liga and the Champions League last season and brings a sense of serenity and control to Croatia's midfield that few can. Winner of the Golden Ball at Russia 2018, this is sure to be his last World Cup so Modrić will be absolutely determined to go out in style and help Croatia go as deep as possible.
Achraf Hakimi has blossomed into one of the finest wing-backs in the European game and he'll be Morocco's star man at Qatar 2022. The Paris Saint-Germain player was superb during the last African Cup of Nations and, even though he'll only be turning 24 on the eve of the tournament, he has a lot of experience already under his belt with club and country. There's few players quicker than him when he sprints down that right flank.
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 23 | Time: 5 a.m. ET | Location: Lusail Stadium -- Lusail, Qatar
TV: FS1 and Telemundo | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Good morning and welcome to the opening match of the day from Francesco Porzio. Morocco face Croatia in the first match of Group F. Later during the day Belgium will face Canada.
