Morocco vs Croatia World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group F match at Qatar 2022

David Lynch

Morocco vs Croatia World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group F match at Qatar 2022 image

Croatia begin their bid to go one better than the last World Cup when they take on Morocco on Wednesday.

Zlatko Dalic's men were surprise participants in the final of the 2018 edition of this tournament, where they were ultimately beaten by France.

Croatia aren't tipped for glory in Qatar, either, though a good start against Morocco will undoubtedly lead to suggestions they might be dark horses.

Below are the confirmed lineups for both teams.

MORE: Morocco vs. Croatia live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 Group F match

Morocco vs Croatia lineups

Croatia boss Dalic is convinced his side are fully equipped for another deep World Cup run despite limited preparation time.

With the tournament taking place in the middle of the European season, there has been no opportunity for friendlies or much training before kickoff.

But Croatia's manager struck a bullish note in his press conference before the opener, saying: "We used this time to get used to the conditions that awaited us. I am very satisfied. We are ready.

"We chose the highest quality in terms of energy and experience. We don't have any doubts anymore; the guys know the lineup.

"We have experience and energy, and we have a good mix. A challenging match awaits us. I believe we made the right choice."

MORE: When is Morocco vs Croatia at FIFA World Cup? Updated TV schedule, time, odds

Morocco confirmed starting 11

(4-3-3, right to left): 1. Bounou (GK) — 5. Aguerd, 3. Mazraoui, 2. Hakimi — 15. Amallah, 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat 6. Saiss — 17. Boufal, 19. En-Nesyri, 7. Ziyech.

  • Injured: Sabiri, Ezzalzouli
  • Suspended: none

Walid Regragui is without both Abdelhamid Sabiri and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli for the opening match of Morocco's second consecutive World Cup.

However, he is able to name a talented starting XI featuring stars such as Achraf HakimiHakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui.

Croatia confirmed starting 11

Croatia (4-1-4-1, right to left): 1. Livakovic (GK) — 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 19. Sosa, 20. Gvardiol — 10. Modric — 4. Perisic, 8. Kovacic, 11. Brozovic, 13. Vlasic — 9. Kramaric.

  • Injured: none
  • Suspended: none

Marko Livaja's recovery from injury means Dalic has a fully fit squad to choose from for his side's opening group game.

The experienced Luka Modric is partnered by Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic in a midfield that will be the envy of many of the top teams at the tournament.

Morocco vs Croatia World Cup squads

Here are the 26 names on each team's squad lists at the World Cup in Qatar:

Morocco

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCaps
GK1Yassine BonoSevilla (SPA)3145
GK12MunirAl Wehda (KSA)3343
GK22Ahmed Reda TagnaoutiWydad (MOR)263
DEF2Achraf HakimiReal Madrid (SPA)2453
DEF3Noussair MazraouiBayern Munich (GER)2414
DEF6Romain SaissBesiktas (TUR)3265
DEF5Nayef AguerdWest Ham (ENG)2621
DEF20Achraf DariBrest (FRA)234
DEF18Jawad El-YamiqValladolid (SPA)3011
DEF25Yahi Attain-AllalWydad (MOR)271
DEF23Badr BenounQatar SC (QAT)293
MID4Sofyan AmrabatFiorentina (ITA)2638
MID15Selim AmallahStandard Liege (BEL)2523
MID11Abdelhamid SabiriSampdoria (ITA)252
MID8Azzedine OunahiAngers (FRA)229
MID24Bilel El KhanoussGenk (BEL)180
MID26Yahya JabraneWydad (MOR)314
FWD7Hakim ZiyechChelsea (ENG)2442
FWD19Youssef En-NesyriSevilla (SPA)2549
FWD17Sofiane BoufalAngers (FRA)2931
FWD14Zaharia AboukhlalToulouse (FRA)2212
FWD16Abdessamad EzzalzouliOsasuna (SPA)201
FWD10Anass ZarouryBurnley (ENG)220
FWD13Ilias ChairQPR (ENG)2510
FWD9Abderrazak HamdallahAl Ittihad (KSA)3117
FWD21Walid CheddiraBari (ITA)242

Croatia

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCaps
GK1Dominik LivakovicDinamo Zagreb (CRO)2734
GK12Ivo GrbicAtletico Madrid (SPA)262
GK23Ivica IvusicOsijek (CRO) 275
DEF2Josip StanisicBayern Munich (GER)227
DEF3Borna BarisicRangers (SCO)2928
DEF5Martin ErlicSassuolo (ITA)244
DEF6Dejan LovrenZenit St Petersburg (ITA)3372
DEF19Borna SosaVfB Stuttgart (GER)248
DEF20Josko GvardiolRB Leipzig (GER)2012
DEF21Domagoj VidaAEK Athens (GRE)33100
DEF22Josip JuranovicCeltic (SCO)2721
DEF24Josip SutaloDinamo Zagreb (CRO)223
MID7Lovro MajerRennes (FRA)2411
MID8Mateo KovacicChelsea (ENG)2884
MID10Luka ModricReal Madrid (SPA)37155
MID25Luka SucicRB Salzburg (AUS)204
MID11Marcelo BrozovicInter Milan (ITA) 2977
MID13Nikola VlasicTorino (ITA)2542
MID15Mario PasalicAtalanta (ITA)2743
MID26Kristijan JakicEintracht Frankfurt (GER)254
FWD4Ivan PerisicTottenham Hotspur (ENG)33116
FWD9Andrej KramaricHoffenheim (GER)3174
FWD14Marko LivajaHadjuk Split (CRO)2914
FWD16Bruno PetkovicDinamo Zagreb (CRO)2823
FWD17Ante BudimirOsasuna (ENG)3115
FWD18Mislav OrsicDinamo Zagreb (CRO)2921

David Lynch

David Lynch is a freelance football journalist primarily covering Liverpool FC. He has reported on the the Reds for over a decade for publications such as the Sunday Mirror and Evening Standard, carving out a reputation as a trusted voice on all things Anfield in the process. Having followed Liverpool across England and Europe over the course of his career, David has filed from illustrious venues such as Camp Nou, the Allianz Arena and the Estadio do Dragao, as well as from multiple Champions League finals.