Croatia and Morocco go head-to-head within the third place play-off on the World Cup this afternoon.
Each nations would have cherished to have taken half in Sunday’s closing, however after defeats to Argentina and France respectively, they may participate within the match that no fan needs to see their international locations participate in.
After getting by the Spherical of 16 and quarter-finals on penalties, Croatia have been no match for Argentina, as they have been swept away due to a Lionel Messi masterclass.
Luka Modric and Croatia have been unable to make the ultimate of the World Cup as they did in 2018
Morocco have been eradicated by reigning champions France after making historical past on the World Cup
After seeing off Belgium, Spain and Portugal, it was one step too far for Morocco as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to the reigning champions France.
With the match quick approaching, Sportsmail takes you thru every little thing it is advisable know beneath.
When is Croatia vs Morocco?
Croatia and Morocco will go head-to-head right this moment, with kick-off at 3pm GMT, 10am EST within the USA and on Sunday at 1am for Australian Japanese Time.
Date: Saturday, December 17
Time: 3pm (UK time), 10am (US EST), 1am – Dec 18 (AUS EST)
Find out how to watch Croatia vs Morocco
The third-place play-off between Croatia and Morocco can be aired reside on BBC One and also will be screened on the BBC iPlayer for UK viewers.
US based mostly World Cup followers can view the match on Fox Sports activities 1 and the Fox Sports activities web site with a sound login. Telemundo and Peacock may also be screening the sport.
Australian followers can watch the sport free of charge on SBS, together with the reside stream.
UK: BBC One, BBC iPlayer
US: Fox Sports activities, Telemundo and Peacock
Australia: SBS and SBS On Demand
The place is Croatia vs Morocco being performed?
The third-place play-off that includes Croatia vs Morocco will happen on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium.
It has a capability of 45,416 and it will likely be the eighth and closing match hosted on the stadium – the primary of which was England’s 6-2 victory over Iran.
This stadium is exclusive as it’s the just one getting used at this World Cup that hasn’t been particularly constructed for the match.
The Khalifa Worldwide Stadium was inbuilt 1976 and redeveloped in 2017. It has hosted a number of massive sporting occasions together with the World Athletics Championships and the FIFA Membership World Cup closing in 2019.
Additionally it is the one stadium from the match that will not be partially or totally dismantled following the World Cup.
Location: Al Rayyan, Doha
Stadium: Khalifa Worldwide Stadium
The third-place play-off would be the eighth match staged on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium
Croatia vs Morocco: Staff information
Croatia supervisor Zlatko Dalic has largely been freed from damage issues all through their time in Qatar.
Whereas Saturday’s sport presents the possibility handy a few of his back-up choices a run-out, there’s nothing stopping them from placing out one other robust squad to wrap up third place on the World Cup for the second time – having beforehand accomplished so in 1998.
Morocco, in the meantime, have been decimated by accidents. Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss and Noussair Mazraoui have been all injured in the course of the semi-final loss to France.
Supervisor Walid Regragui confirmed there can be modifications as he stated his gamers are ‘on their final legs’ following their efforts in Qatar.
Romain Saiss was considered one of three Morocco gamers who have been injured within the semi-final loss
Croatia squad
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic, Ivica Ivusic, Ivo Grbic.
Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Borna Barisic, Josip Juranovic, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Josip Stanisic, Martin Erlic, Josip Sutalo.
Midfielders: Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Kristijan Jakic, Luka Sucic.
Forwards: Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Bruno Petkovic, Mislav Orsic, Ante Budimir, Marko Livaja.
Morocco squad
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti
Defenders: Anas Zniti, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Ganza Ek Niyssaiyu, Romain Saiss, Achraf Dari, Badr Benoun, Yahia Attiyat Allah, Jawad El Yamiq, Samy Mmaee
Midfielders: Younes Belhanda, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Ilias Chair, Selim Amallah, Yahya Jabrane, Amine Harit
Aheads: Hakim Ziyech, Munir El Haddadi, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Ayoub El Kaabi, Soufiane Rahimi, Sofiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri, Ryan Mmaee, Abde Ezzalzouli.
Head-to-head document
Croatia: 1
Morocco wins: 0
Attracts: 1
These two nations can have performed every extra in lower than a month than they’ve accomplished of their respective histories earlier than that.
Earlier than the World Cup, these two sides solely met as soon as earlier than and it got here within the Hassan II Trophy, a pleasant match organised by the Royal Moroccan Soccer Federation that was performed within the metropolis of Casablanca.
In entrance of an estimated crowd of 80,000, Croatia raced into an early lead with two objectives in two minutes from Goran Vlaovic after 1 / 4 of an hour.
Morocco rallied with objectives from Salaheddine Bassir and Ahmed Bahja however they fell simply brief in a penalty shoot-out, shedding 7-6.
Then 26 years later in Qatar, the 2 nations performed out an uneventful goalless draw, with each side solely having two photographs on course every within the sport.
Dec 1996 – Morocco 2-2 Croatia (6-7 pens) (Pleasant)
Nov 2022 – Morocco 0-0 Croatia
Croatia and Morocco performed out a goalless draw however each superior from their group
