A third-place playoff between Croatia and Morocco is taking place on Saturday. While Qatar 2022 has been full of surprises and has propelled several players to new heights, these two teams have lost in their semifinals but they can still end the tournament on a high note. The match pits two sides with very different styles against each other, as Croatia is led by their midfield maestro Luka Modric.
The Real Madrid star will be looking to lead his side to victory against a Moroccan team that has been impressive in recent outings. Modric’s influence on the game cannot be understated, as he has been pivotal for Croatia since his debut in 2006. His passing ability, vision and long range shooting have helped him become an integral part of both club and country for many years now.
Morocco has an undeniable star power heading into the match with Hakim Ziyech leading the way. Noted for his creative and tricky playmaking abilities, Ziyech will be looking to dominate against Croatia’s midfield. Also, Achraf Hakimi’s performance for the team has been impressive and there is no doubt that his presence will add immense quality to this game.
Morocco has achieved a feat that no African nation has ever done before in the World Cup. The North African side have become the first team from their continent to reach the semi-final stage of the tournament. After progressing through an exciting group stage, Morocco faced off against Croatia, Belgium, Canada and also Spain in the knockout rounds. Despite being considered underdogs, they were able to produce some stunning performances which saw them eventually book their place in the final four.
Croatia vs. Morocco Date, kick-off time and venue
The World Cup third-place playoff is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off time on Saturday December 17, 2022.
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Doha.
Croatia vs. Morocco Betting Tips
Tip 1: Goals – Over/Under 2.5 Goals – Over 2.5
Tip 2: At least a goal to be scored in the second half – Yes
Tip 3: Achraf Hakimi to score or assist anytime – Yes
Tip 4: Luka Modric to score or assist anytime – Yes
Croatia predicted lineup: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Sutalo, Sosa; Modric, Jakic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Kramaric, Perisic
Morocco predicted lineup: Bono; Hakimi, El-Yamiq, Dari, Attiyat-Allah; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
