Al Bayt Stadium will play host to Wednesday's FIFA World Cup game between Morocco and Croatia. The game kicks off at 9:00 pm with Croatia heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Morocco vs. Croatia game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Wednesday November 23, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Where: Al Bayt Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Morocco vs Croatia Odds
Morocco vs Croatia Preview
Morocco arrive in Qatar for their sixth appearance at the World Cup finals, but the challenge now for one of the undeniable big hitters of the African scene is to convert their promise into something more tangible on the worldwide stage.
Cameroon are the only African team to have made more finals appearances than the Atlas Lions, but a record of just two wins and five draws from 16 games highlights how disappointing Morocco have been at the main event.
Once again they arrive full of expectation, boasting some serious talent in the likes of full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui – who star at Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich respectively – Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech, Europa League-winning Sevilla pair Youssef En-Nesyri and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.
However, each of those players bar Mazraoui went to Russia four years ago in a team that flopped, losing 1-0 to Iran in their opener and 1-0 again to Portugal to see them knocked out before they reached their third group match.
That continues a theme of failing to deliver on their promise, with a nation that churns out plenty of high-quality players not just falling short at the World Cup but also managing to go 46 years without a continental crown, with their sole Africa Cup of Nations title arriving in 1976.
Now they must try and improve on that record in a group containing an improving Canada side plus star-studded Belgium and opening opponents Croatia.
The Croats may feel they have missed their chance after losing to France in the 2018 World Cup final, but manager Zlatko Dalic again boasts a fine squad as he leads Croatia into a major tournament for the third time.
Following the heartbreak of 2018, Croatia suffered a disappointing round-of-16 exit at last year’s European Championships, but their extra-time defeat to Spain was no disgrace.
And while the team is changing as older players move on, Dalic’s defence arguably looks stronger than ever with centre-back Josko Gvardiol one of the hottest properties in Europe.
But it is in the centre of the pitch where Croatia truly excel, with the trio of Real Madrid star Luka Modric, Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic of Inter surely among the best midfield departments in Qatar.
Modric continues to shine even at 37, with the five-time Uefa Champions League winner arguably one of the greatest of all time in his position. Around him there are slight concerns about the fitness and form of Kovacic and winger Ivan Perisic, but as a unit they remain almost impossible to stop when everything clicks.
That proved the case in June and September as Dalic’s side topped a Uefa Nations League group containing France, Denmark and Austria, with Croatia impressively beating France in Paris and holding them to a 1-1 draw in Split.
But this opening clash could be an interesting tactical battle as Croatia’s one glaring weakness is a lack of elite goalscorer while Morocco are solid in defence and boast two genuinely elite full-backs.
Hakimi and Mazraoui will likely pin back Croatia’s main attacking threat from the wings – particularly with 33-year-old Perisic struggling for form since moving to Tottenham – so Croatia are likely to have to weave their way through the middle.
Dalic’s team certainly has the quality to do that but in Walid Regragui’s two matches in charge following his last-minute pre-World Cup appointment, the Morocco manager has set up in a 4-3-3 with a highly defensive midfield three stifling and spoiling, leaving his full-backs to supply the forwards.
It should make for an intriguing tactical encounter but one that could get clogged up in the middle of the pitch to offer few goalscoring opportunities with Croatia eventually grinding a way to victory.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping Croatia to win at $1.95 odds.
Correct Score:
Correct Score: Croatia 2-1 at $8.50.