roatia and Morocco will each choose sturdy beginning line-ups for Saturday’s World Cup third-place play-off, though damage points are hampering each groups.
Other than the plain disappointment of lacking out on the ultimate, Croatia supervisor Zlatko Dalic‘s side have largely been free of injury concerns throughout their time in Qatar.
However, it has now been reported that Celtic defender Josip Juranovic will miss the meeting with Morocco after playing for 70 minutes with a calf injury in the semi-final defeat by Argentina.
While Saturday’s recreation provides the possibility at hand a few of Croatia’s back-up choices a run-out, one other sturdy group is anticipated as they give the impression of being to complete third in a World Cup for the second time, having first finished so in 1998.
Luka Modric – who might effectively be enjoying his final World Cup recreation – will virtually actually be flanked by Mateo Kovacic in midfield, although Marcelo Brozovic was pressured off towards Argentina and will effectively miss out right here after sitting out coaching.
Star defender Josko Gvardiol is assured of shaking off a foot problem to line up on the again alongside Dejan Lovren. Up entrance, Dalic additionally faces a dilemma selecting between Bruno Petkovic and Andrej Kramaric. Left-back Borna Sosa is coping with a muscle downside.
Josip Stanisic, Borna Barisic, Martin Erlic, Lovro Majer and Kristijan Jakic are among the many gamers who might are available.
Morocco, in the meantime, have been decimated by accidents. Romain Saiss and Noussair Mazraoui had been each taken off early within the semi-final loss to France after being risked following accidents and supervisor Walid Regragui has confirmed there might be modifications, with Nayef Aguerd a late scratch from the last-four lineup all the way down to sickness after recovering from an damage.
“We have a lot of players injured, we’re on our last legs,” Regragui mentioned. “We want to win but I also want to allow players who haven’t played to go out there and show what they can do. We’re going to try to win but I have a lot of players who need to recover.”
Achraf Dari, Yahia Attiat-Allah and Jawad El Yamiq ought to all proceed to deputise in that Moroccan defence this weekend.
Predicted Croatia XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Barisic; Majer, Modric, Kovacic; Orsic, Petkovic, Perisic.
Predicted Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Dari, El Yamiq, Attiat-Allah; Amallah, Ounahi, Amrabat; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal.
