Pride and Money
Let’s be honest; no team wants to play the third-place game. However, Croatia and Morocco have a lot to play for. First, Morocco could become the first African squad to finish on the World Cup podium. Second, Croatia could finish on the podium for the third time, which would make the Blazers one of the most consistent teams in soccer’s grandest stage. Finally, the winner will return home with much more money than the loser.
Let’s check the latest World Cup odds, stats, injury reports, and World Cup lines for Croatia vs Morocco. We’ve plenty of World Cup betting odds for you to consider.
Croatia: For Luka Modric
Prior to the start of the tournament, nobody thought Croatia would go very far. Well, the Blazers finished second in what I always considered the Group of Death. Curiously enough, Morocco ended up winning Group F.
After the Group Stage, Croatia collided with Japan in the Round of 16. The match ended 1-1, and the Blazers advanced after winning the penalty shootout 3-1. Four days later, they pulled off the stunner against Brazil in the Round of 8. Once again, the match finished 1-1, and the Blazers won the penalty shootout 4-2.
Things were completely different in the Semifinals, where they faced Lionel Messi and Argentina. La Albiceleste ended up winning 3-0. Croatia won possession with 61% but only took two shots on target.
The final score was unexpected. Prior to facing Messi & Co., the Blazers didn’t concede more than one goal per game, finishing with a clean sheet three times. That includes the match against Brazil because Neymar’s goal was in overtime.
There’s also the fact that Qatar 2022 is Luka Modric’s last dance with the national team. The captain has been playing at a great level, and winning this game would be the perfect farewell.
Scoop on Free Play from the Locker Room
Morocco: Nothing to Be Ashamed Of
Morocco rewrote history by becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup Semifinals. And they did it in great fashion. First winning Group F thanks to a 2-1-0 record. They defeated Belgium and Canada with a 4-1 aggregate and drew 0-0 to Croatia.
In the Round of 16, the Atlas Lions drew 0-0 to Spain, the same team that scored seven goals against Costa Rica, winning the penalty shootout 3-0. Four days later, they pulled off another stunner against Portugal. They won 1-0 thanks to Youssef En-Nesyri, who scored right before the end of the first half.
Most recently, the Atlas Lions faced France in the Semifinals. They put up a good fight but ended up losing 2-0. Like Croatia against Argentina, they won possession with 62% but weren’t effective in front of goal.
We’re also talking about a team whose defensive unit is extremely disciplined. Offensively, it can control the pace or rely on the counterattack. This time I expect Morocco to go all-in right from the start; it has nothing to lose and much to win. Once again, the Atlas Lions come in as the betting online underdogs, but they’re used to that.
Croatia vs Morocco Match Information
- Match: Croatia vs Morocco
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 17th
- Time: 10 a.m. ET
- Location: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
- Croatia vs Morocco Live Stream: fubo.tv
Croatia vs Morroco Betting Lines
Croatia vs Morocco Picks & Prediction
- Is it Worth Betting on the Moneyline?
Totally. We’ve Croatia at +135 and Morocco at +205. Considering this will be Morocco’s first third-place match, I think the Atlas Lions will take it more seriously than the Blazers. In other words, they’re a great option if you are looking for an underdog to include in your soccer picks. Yes, I think they’ll rewrite history once again by winning on Saturday.
- Is it Worth Betting ATS?
Not really. Morocco is pk at +125, while Croatia is pk at -145. Wagering on the moneyline ends up being a much better deal.
- Is it Worth Betting on the Totals?
Yes. I don’t expect another goalless draw, which was the result when these two met during the Group Stage. That being said, Morocco scoring more than 1½ goals is offering a +175 price in the sportsbook. On the other hand, Croatia scoring more than 1½ goals is +130. Both will play more relaxed, so you can expect a back-and-forth battle.
Score Prediction: Morocco 2, Croatia 1
World Cup Standings
World Cup League Stats
