Morocco will be looking to win their first World Cup game since 1998 as they face the 2018 finalists Croatia.
Walid Regragui has managed Morocco for only three matches after being appointed in August. Morocco will be looking to carry on their momentum as they are unbeaten in their last seven internationals.
Regragui acknowledged the difficulty of Group F as he told Morocco World News ‘’we are in the group of death’’. If Morocco, make their way out of this group they will equal their best run in the World Cup when they made the last 16 in 1986.
Morocco will be hoping that their late replacement Anass Zaroury can make an impact as Amine Harit was ruled out of the tournament last week. The ‘Atlas Lions’ will have the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Noussair Mazraoui and Achraf Hakimi available for the opener.
Croatia will be a stern test as they boast one of the best midfields in the tournament, including Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic.
Regragui stressed the significance of the midfield battle in this game. He told Morocco World News ‘’It will be a real tactical and technical game. The midfield will be important’’.
Team News:
Morocco XI (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
Croatia XI (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Kovacic, Brozovic, Modric; Vlasic, Kramaric, Perisic
