W’Cup 2022: Well-drilled Morocco Hold Croatia To A Goalless Draw

Well-prepared Morocco played out a 0-0 draw in the European country’s 2022 World Cup opener, at Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday.

Croatia controlled possession as they would have anticipated, but they were unable to generate chances or overcome Morocco, which has only lost twice in their last 40 games over the course of three years.

The best opportunity of a game with only two shots on goal from each team came in first-half stoppage time when West Ham’s defender, Vlasic, diverted a left-wing cross towards the goal, but the midfielder was stopped by the right leg of Yassine Bounou, who spread himself to close down the angle.

When Noussair Mazraoui followed in a deflected shot and had a back-post header saved, Morocco, who are rated 22nd, came the closest.

Paris Saint-Germain right-back, Achraf Hakimi, also presented a challenge for Dominik Livakovic, but the Croatian goalkeeper handled his dipping, swerving 35-yard shot with ease.

Both teams may have been concerned about losing and jeopardizing their prospects of advancing to the knockout rounds from a group that also includes Belgium and Canada, thus the game was primarily played in the middle third of the field.

After Denmark’s first match against Tunisia and Poland’s match against Mexico on Tuesday, the goalless draw is the third of this World Cup.

While In the whole Russian 2018 competition, there was only one.