Croatia begin their quest for the championship when they take on Morocco in their Group F opener of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday. Croatia reached the final for the first time in 2018 but settled for runner-up as they suffered a 4-2 loss to France. Morocco are making their sixth appearance in the World Cup but have advanced to the knockout stage just once, losing to West Germany in the Round of 16 in 1986.
Kickoff at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar is set for 5 a.m. ET. The Croatians are +114 favorites (risk $100 to win $114) in the latest Croatia vs. Morocco odds from Caesars Sportsbook, with the Moroccans +270 underdogs. A draw is priced at +210 and the over/under for total goals is set at 2.5. Before locking in your Morocco vs. Croatia picks or World Cup 2022 predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's soccer simulation model has to say.
The SportsLine soccer simulation model evaluates a team's offensive and defensive capabilities based on the game situation. Then, it assigns a grade using an expected payout-to-probability ratio. The model was accurate on 56% of all picks during the Champions League group stage and returned more than $1,000 to $100 bettors on its A+ picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has analyzed the Croatia vs. Morocco matchup from every angle and revealed its 2022 World Cup picks. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Morocco vs. Croatia:
- Croatia vs. Morocco spread: Croatia -0.5 (+115)
- Croatia vs. Morocco over/under: 2.5 goals
- Croatia vs. Morocco money line: Croatia +114, Morocco +270, Draw +210
- CRO: The Croatians have allowed three goals in their last six matches
- MOR: The Moroccans have outscored their opponents 14-3 over their last seven games|
- Croatia vs. Morocco picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back Croatia
The Croatians enter the tournament on a hot streak, having won five straight matches across all competitions. One of those victories came in UEFA Nations League play against defending World Cup champion France, a 1-0 triumph in which 37-year-old midfielder Luka Modric scored on a penalty in the fifth minute. Croatia also played the French to a 1-1 draw a week earlier, with forward Andrej Kramaric netting the goal on a penalty in the 83rd minute to even the contest.
Modric shared the team lead in scoring during World Cup qualifying with three goals and also recorded a pair in six Nations League games. The 31-year-old Kramaric netted the lone goal in Croatia's 1-0 victory against Saudi Arabia in a friendly last week. Forward Ivan Perisic and midfielder Mario Pasalic also provide offense as they matched Modric with three goals apiece during qualifying play.
Why you should back Morocco
The Moroccans have been playing well defensively of late, posting clean sheets in four consecutive contests and five of their last six. They'll need more of the same as forward Ayoub El Kaabi, who led Morocco with five goals during World Cup qualifying, was left off the roster. That will put pressure to score on players such as forwards Sofiane Boufal and Youssef En-Nesyri.
The 29-year-old Boufal scored just once in eight qualifying matches but has scored in two of his last three outings - friendlies against Chile and Georgia. En-Nesyri also has been hot of late, scoring a goal in three of his last four outings for the Atlas Lions. Another player to watch is defender Achraf Hakimi, who scored twice in seven qualifying games.
How to make Croatia vs. Morocco picks
The model has taken an in-depth look at the Croatia vs. Morocco match from every angle, and it says one side of the money line has all the value. See what it is at SportsLine.
So who wins Croatia vs. Morocco on Wednesday? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Croatia vs. Morocco spread to back Wednesday, all from the model that hit 56% of its Champions League picks, and find out.
