North African giants Morocco got off their participation at the 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup with a hard fought point in their Group F opening match as they forced 2018 losing World Cup finalists Croatia into a 0-0 draw in a match played at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.The game witnessed few scoring opportunities throughout the entire clash as the Moroccans frustrated Luka Modric’s Croatia with their faultless work rate that ended up forcing both sides to share the spoils in their group opener.Morocco and Croatia share the points. 🤝@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 23, 2022 First HalfPlaying their first match at the World Cup under new head coach Walid Regragui who took over from the sacked Vahid Halilhodzic, the Moroccans showed no signs of fear as they took the game to the 2018 losing finalists in a squad that saw Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech start on the right of a three-man attack.With both sides keen on getting their tournament off to a positive start, each team took turns in fashioning their attacks but came largely undone for a majority of the half owing to the lack of cutting edge in the final third.##NAJAVA_MECA_6833995##Just on the stroke of half time, Croatia came close to stealing the lead when Nikola Vlasic was denied a chance of finding the back of the net by Bono the goalkeeper in what was the closest opportunity the clash came to witnessing a goal.The Sevilla goalkeeper was caught in two minds on a ball floated into the area as he chose to parry it rather than holding onto it, the ball finding its way to the overlapping Sosa who delivered a perfect low cross for Vlasic who was denied by Bono who got down low just in time.نهاية المقابلة بالتعادل السلبي بين المنتخب الوطني و المنتخب الكرواتي 🇭🇷FULL TIME | It’s a draw but still ready for the next match#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #TeamMorocco #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/dioBguXV17— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) November 23, 2022 Shortly after, the Croatians, who had their tails up, came threatening once again when captain Modric pounced on a loose ball just outside the box but the Real Madrid man could not do anything to break the deadlock just before the break as the shot from his weaker left foot rose just over the bar with Bono left rooted to the ground.Second HalfAt the start of the second half, Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic subbed off Vlasic and brought on Mario Pasalic in his stead to try and change the game in the final third.46′ Vlašić off, Pašalić on. 🔄#MARCRO | 0:0 | #FIFAWorldCup #Vatreni— HNS (@HNS_CFF) November 23, 2022 The spirited Moroccans however refused to give Croatia an inch as they fought and competed for every ball.Shortly after being forced into replacing Bayern Munich star Noussair Mazraoui on the hour mark who picked up an injury, the Atlas Lions almost took the lead through PSG right back Achraf Hakimi who unleashed a stinging thunderbolt from a long-range free kick.Oburu keen on bailing struggling Zesco after overcoming injury problemsDespite having sufficient power, Croatian keeper Dominik Livakovic was lucky to punch the ball to safety as it was just centrally placed.That chance proved to be the final meaningful moment in front of goal as the theme of lacking the cutting edge continued in front of goal forcing the two sides to settle for the barren draw.
