The end of the FIFA World Cup betting journey is here, with the final two matches of the tournament taking place this weekend starting with Croatia vs Morocco in the third place match. This is a consolation match for two nations who already faced off earlier in this tournament in the group stage, with both nations advancing out of Group F.
That previous match between Croatia and Morocco was a snoozer, a Nil-Nil draw to open the tournament with both teams taking a point that proved to be crucial at the end of the group stage. Those who wish to back the full time draw a second time can get +240 odds, with Croatia -150 to finish third and Morocco +110 to end their run as tournament darlings as the third best team in the competition.
Croatia vs Morocco Betting Pick
| ℹ️ The Pick: | Morocco +110 (includes extra time/penalties) |
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This game will be played at Khalifa International Stadium at 10:00 AM ET on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
Why Bet on Morocco:
✅ Morocco should once again be expected to have a bit of a ‘homefield advantage’ in this one as the nation who has received the loudest support in the tournament.
✅ Morocco’s suffocating defense frustrated Croatia mightily in the first matchup between the two sides in the group stage. Croatia’s five total shots attempted was their fewest ever in a World Cup match.
✅ In a match where the motivation levels can vary, it feels a lot better backing a Morocco side that will have the energy from the stands as well as the motivation to become the first African nation to finish third in the World Cup over a Croatia side that has plenty of players who you couldn’t blame for turning down the effort a notch in preparation for their returns to their prospective top European clubs.
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Croatia
After upsetting Brazil in the quarterfinal, the task of knocking off the two powers of South American football in back to back knockout matches was too much for Croatia in the end. Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez ended Croatia’s bid to make a second straight World Cup final, with Messi opening the scoring from the penalty spot after Alvarez drew a foul in the box.
Alvarez then finished off the match with a beautiful run through the Croatia defense to make it 2-0 before halftime. The Manchester City substitute will live in the memories of Croatian supporters forever as Alvarez’ effort was the key factor in Croatia’s defeat.
It will be interesting to see how Luka Modric is used in what could be his final big moment for Croatia. The aging midfielder has been brilliant for Croatia in this tournament and will likely make his last appearance at the World Cup in the third place match. How long he stays on the pitch before receiving his goodbyes could be a key factor in this match as if Modric only makes a brief cameo, his impact will be missed in the latter stages of the match.
Morocco
France’s high flying attack was simply too much for Morocco’s tidy defensive structure to hold off in the semifinals as their run as the fan favorite in Qatar came to a halt in a hurry against the defending champions. Theo Hernandez scored inside of their first five minutes, completely throwing out any hopes of Morocco repeating their strategy of defending and striking on the counterattack in the match.
Morocco still has a chance to end their tournament on a high note with a win over Croatia in a matchup they should feel good about. Despite failing to score themselves, Morocco frustrated Croatia in the tournament opener for both nations and kept the 2018 runners up from registering quality chances in the match. If they can do that again, Morocco should finish their inspiring run in Qatar with a deserving happy ending.
The big question will be if Morocco’s players can bounce back and give the same level of effort they have given throughout the tournament. Their success has come largely through their work rate and team spirit. After the crushing defeat to France, Morocco’s players need to regroup as a unit and play just as hard as they did in pursuit of the World Cup title in the third place game if they want to beat Croatia. If they don’t, they might get exposed by Croatia’s technical ability in this matchup if the effort is not there.
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