Group F of the World Cup in Qatar began this Wednesday (23), with a goalless draw between Morocco and Croatia, at Al Bayt Stadium, in Al Khor. It was the third 0-0 of this World Cup, even before the end of the first round.
Morocco and Croatia share the points. ??@adidasfootball ?? #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2022
It was the first time, after 11 games, that the Croatians, current world runners-up, did not score in a World Cup game. The Lions of the Atlas, as the Moroccans are known, are still without a win in their World Cup debut. They repeat the result of the 1986 edition, in Mexico, when they also did not come out of zero against Poland. Coincidentally, that was the only occasion on which the African team reached a knockout stage of the competition.
The key still has Belgium and Canada, who will face each other later, at 4 pm (Brasília time), at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, in Al Rayyan. The match marks the Canadians’ return to a Cup after 36 years.
The Moroccans and Croatians return to the field this Sunday (27) for the second round of Group F. At 10:00 am (Brasília time), the Atlas Lions face Belgium at Al Thumama Stadium, in Doha. Then, at 1 pm, the current world runners-up will face Canada at the Khalifa International Stadium, also in the Qatari capital.
Marking locks Modric and company
Morocco’s forward lines were a test of patience for the Croatians in the first half, which had very few emotions. Having more possession of the ball (51%, against 36% of rivals and 13% in contention for both sides) was insufficient for the Europeans, far apart from each other on the field, facilitating the work of the well-fitted African marking. The Moroccans, in turn, did little in attack, always blocked in attempts to finish.
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FULL TIME | It’s a draw but still ready for the next match#DimaMaghrib ?? #TeamMorocco #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/dioBguXV17
— Team du Maroc (@EnMaroc) November 23, 2022
The only highlights of the first half of the game came in stoppage time. First, full-back Borna Sosa advanced on the left and crossed for midfielder Nikola Vlasic to finish first, in the small area, forcing goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to a beautiful save. In the sequence, the ace Luka Modric had the chance to finish from the edge of the area, after the leftover of a kick by Vlasic, which was stopped by the marking, but the ball finished by the midfielder went just above the crossbar.
The teams seemed to come back from the break more connected. In the fifth minute, striker Sofiane Boufal’s shot from the edge of the area exploded into defender Dejan Lovren. In left wing, Noussair Mazraoui appeared with a fish, in the small area on the left, stopping at goalkeeper Dominik Likakovic. The answer came in the next minute, with midfielder Sofyan Amrabat blocking Lovren’s tackle, who tried to take advantage of Bounou who had fallen after the ball was kicked into the area from a corner kick by Modric.
However, it didn’t take long for the game to become truncated again. Satisfied with the result, Morocco retreated and congested the defense with two lines of four and coach Walid Regragui holding off the substitutions for the final 15 minutes, keeping the entire marking physically. With Modric out, the Croatian coach, Zlatko Dalic, changed the attacking pieces that were also in an uninspired day, such as Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric, but without the changes having an effect and changing the match.
