Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Croatia
Match Time & Date:
17/12/2022
16:00
Prediction: 2-1
Morocco
Bronze medal at the 2022 World Cup will be at stake when Croatia and Morocco face each other at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Croats aim to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to Argentina where they dominated the game in the first 30 minutes, and the bookies see them as slim favourites to win the third-place playoffs. Since Zlatko Dalic will have a full squad to choose from, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the European side.
The Atlas Lions, on the other hand, failed to shock France in the semis, and, to make things even worse for head coach Walid Regragui, both Romain Saiss and Noussair Mazraoui limped off with injuries. West Ham centre-back Nayef Aguerd is yet another absentee in the African team. Even though Bari forward Walid Cheddira is back from suspension, we are tempted to put our money on Luka Modric and Co, who won the silver medal at the 2018 World Cup finals.
Highlighted Player (Luka Modric):
Luka Modric is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in world football. The Croatian ace is a product of Dinamo Zagreb’s youth school and it has to be noted that he played 94 league games for the Modri between 2003 and 2008. In 2008 he signed a six-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £16.5 million.
Luka made his Tottenham debut on 16 August, 2008 in a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium. The Croatian star scored only 13 goals in 127 league appearances for the Spurs, but he is well known for his brilliant passing. In 2012 he signed for Real Madrid for a fee of £30 million and he made his debut against Barcelona in the 2012 Spanish Super Cup, return leg.
Modric quickly established himself as a first-team regular and, no doubt, he helped the capital club win two Champions League trophies (2013/2014, 2015/2016). You should bear in mind that he was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2014.
Highlighted Team (Morocco):
Morocco, the Atlas Lions, are the first African team to win a group at the World Cup finals. Back in 1986 the team managed to finish the group stages above Portugal, Poland and England, but West Germany proved to be a big catch for the Moroccan national team in the last 16 of the tournament.
The Atlas Lions participated at the World Cup finals on four occasions, but winning of the 1976 African Cup of Nations is considered the team’s biggest success. Morocco were producing outstanding displays at the tournament in Ethiopia and it has to be noted that they defeated Guinea in the title game.
Morocco play their home games at Stade Adrar and Stade de Marrakech and they wear red shirts and green shorts when playing in front of home fans. A number of top-class footballers played for Morocco in the past, but Mustafa Hadji is certainly the biggest star who played for the Moroccan national team.
Fiorentina 
Udinese
Inter 
Como
Man City 
Everton
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 
Chelsea 
Fulham
Newcastle 
Aston Villa 
