[Football- World Cup] 17.12/ 16:00 Croatia- Morocco

[MN]

[Football- World Cup] 17.12/ 16:00 Croatia- Morocco

Morocco's defense has been impressing throughout the World Cup. They gave up only 1 goal in their first 5 World Cup games. A crucial part of the great defensive performance have been Saiss, Aguerd and Mazraoui. All 3 key defenders have been coming in banged up into the semi-finals against France, which Morocco lost 2-0. Aguerd was ruled out directly before kick-off. Saiss been subbed off after 21 minutes, because his injury hampered him from keeping up pace with 36 years old French striker Giroud. Mazraoui taken out at half-time due to injury. For the game against Croatia, Saiss is already ruled out, Aguerd is doubtful and Mazraoui is questionable. And according to Morocco's national team manager Regragui, there are even more injured players, which are questionable. Morocco gave it all. They had an impressing tournament run. But now they're depleted and on their last last legs. Forcing Regragui to make changes in the line-up. Additionally, he said regarding the upcoming game: "I will give opportunities to those who did not play, yet".

For Croatia only Brozovic is ruled out. Gvardiol and Juranovic are questionable. It's not expected that Croatia makes a lot of changes. They won't let their usual starters on the bench for this game as Croatia's team manager said about the third-place play-off game against Morocco: "For us, this is a major final, a major match and a fight for a medal." This implies that they’re going with all of their available regulars into the bronze medal game.

This will be Modric's last World Cup game. He'll be eager to put on a good farewell performance. He's one of the top passers in this tournament with a successful passing rate of 90.7%. And even more importantly, he completed the 2nd most line breaking passes and he had also 8 key passes. Against a newly build-up Moroccan defense, which isn't really synced, Modric could initiate big scoring chances and do a lot of damage to Morocco.

Like in the game against France, Morocco is coming into the game with a rest disadvantage. Especially Morocco, with all their banged up players, is in urgent need for any possible rest day. But the World Cup schedule gave Croatia a bit of a rest advantage.

Both teams already squared off in the group stage. No team could break the deadlock that time. But I wouldn't put too much weight on this game as Morocco's line-up was much different. In particular the defense was complete at this time. Aside from that, in general, teams playing less conservatively in games for the 3rd place.

Croatia isn't facing the Moroccan team, which we know from the previous games of the World Cup. There are supposed to be a lot of new Moroccan players in the line-up due to injuries. Regragui also announced that he intends to give bench players the possibility to play in 3rd place playoff game anyway to appreciate their commitment to the team. Giving them the chance to play at least once in the World Cup. While Croatia is supposed to start all available regulars to get a W for Croatian hero Modric, Perisic and Lovren in their last World Cup game.

1 @2,20 Bet365

FT 2:1