CROATIA begin their World Cup campaign with a tricky first clash against Morocco.
The Croats shockingly reached the final in 2018 before ultimatley losing to France 4-2.
But they'll be hoping to go one step further this time while Morocco will be determined to make it out of the group stages.
- Kick-off time: 10am GMT
- Live stream: ITV hub
- TV channel: ITV 1
- Morocco XI: To follow
- Croatia XI: To follow
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- Kostas Lianos
Morocco stats
Morocco are no strangers to the World Cup as this will be their sixth appearance in the top international competition.
However, the Atlas Lions have not progressed past the group stage since 1986 when they made it to the Last 16.
That is when they were eliminated by West Germany, who beat the African nation 1-0 to advance to the quarter-finals.
The Moroccans haven’t lost a match since June when USA beat them 3-0 during a friendly as they went on to win four out of their next five matches
Credit: Reuters - Kostas Lianos
Head-to-Head
This is only the second time Croatia and Morocco lock horns in the two nations’ entire history across all competitions.
The one and only time the two countries faced off took place way back in 1996 during an international friendly in Casablanca that included three red cards.
The two teams drew 2-2 with Goran Vlaovic putting the Croats ahead with a brace and Salaheddine Bassir as well as Ahmed Bahja scoring for the Moroccans.
Croatia then won 9-8 during a dramatic penalty shoot-out after Drazen Ladic saved Abdelkader El Brazi’s spot-kick
Credit: Getty - Kostas Lianos
Good morning from Qatar
Welcome to SunSport’s live blog coverage of the World Cup clash between Group F opponents Croatia and Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Luka Modric and co are looking to write a new chapter in their history after making it to the 2018 World Cup Final where they lost to France 4-2 in Russia.
Manager Zlatko Dalic has no fresh injury concerns heading to the national team’s first match in this year’s group stage.
Chelsea ace Mateo Kovacic is available for the Croats despite struggling with a knee injury he picked up recently.
Morocco boss Walid Regragui, on the other hand, who replaced Vahid Halilhodzic only three months ago, appears to have received a critical injury boost heading into this tough encounter.
West Ham ace Nayef Aguerd appears to have recovered from an ankle injury he picked up during pre-season.
Aguerd has only managed one Premier League appearance with the Hammers this season as a substitute in the 2-0 loss against Leicester earlier this month.
Regragui has also recalled Chelsea ace Hakim Ziyech – in fact, that was the Moroccan head coach’s first move after taking over from Halilhodzic.
The two teams are drawn in the same group as Canada and one of the World Cup’s favourites Belgium
Credit: Getty
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