The 0-0 is the most repeated result of this World Cup. After the insipid Denmark-Tunisia and Mexico-Poland yesterday, this Wednesday at the Al Bayt stadium Croatia and Morocco also missed out. The world runner-up enjoyed the best chances, but she was not able to prevail against a daring North African team that lacked lucidity in the last meters.
A match of flashes that began with rhythm and approximations in the two areas, but without translating the threat into real danger. With technically gifted players like Achraf, Ziyech or Boufal, Morocco tried to take the initiative while the Balkans, old foxes, waited in order to go on the counter and take advantage of Moroccan inaccuracies. The first warning was sent by Perisic with a high shot after an error in the start of the daring Amallah.
As the minutes went by, the momentum of the 'Atlas lions' was limited, especially due to the danger that the Croatian team posed in Bono's area. Before the break, a double chance for Zlatko Dalic's men did not end in a miracle goal. Another loss for Morocco in their half led to a combination down the left side. Borna Sosa's killer pass was about to be turned into a goal by Kramaric. The Sevilla goalkeeper grew to save his country.
With no time to settle, another loose ball up front was incomprehensibly wasted by Luka Modric (37) with a deflected shot. Beyond this mistake, the incombustible Real Madrid midfielder once again gave a recital throughout the match.
After the restart, both teams were activated again. Mazraoui had the clearest up to that moment for the North African team. The left-back headed a ball past the far post, which Livakovic managed well. The bad luck for the Bayern footballer was that he had to retire due to a blow to the torso in the iron shot. Croatia replied instantly, with a shot from Lovren inside the area that the versatile Amrabat took out under the sticks. The former Málaga and Leganés player performs where necessary -in Russia he played as a winger, now he plays as a midfielder-.
Achraf Hakimi had another good opportunity, whipping him from home from a free-kick. The Croatian goalkeeper got rid of that poisoned ball as he could. There were still many minutes to go, but the game faded as the end drew near.
The highlight in a blaugrana key was the entrance to the young Ez Abde. The Osasuna player on loan from Barça made his official debut with Morocco – he had played two friendlies. He had half an hour in Jor. He was willing, with some slaloms from the band but without success in the overflow.
0 - Marruecos: Yassine Bono; Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, Noussair Mazraoui (Yahya Attiat-Allal, m.60); Azzedine Ounahi (Abdelhamid Sabiri, m.82), Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah; Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri (Abderazak Hamdallah, m.81), Sofiane Boufal (Ez Abde, m.65).
0 - Croatia: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Guardiol, Borna Sosa; Mateo Kovacic (Lovro Majer, m.79), Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric; Nikola Vlasic (Mario Pasalic, m.46), Ivan Perisic (Mislav Orsic, m.90), Andrej Kramaric (Marko Livaja, m.71).
Referee: Fernando Rapallin (ARG). He showed a yellow card to Sofyan Amrabat.
Incidents: match of the first day of Group F of Qatar 2022, played at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor before 59,407 spectators.
