Neither of the Russia-bound nations in international friendly action were able to find the net on Wednesday night.
Senegal and Morocco both played out 0-0 draws against lesser opposition, teaching Fantasy managers more about their defences than their attack.
We’ve got all the important details from both matches.
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LUXEMBOURG 0-0 SENEGAL
A host of past and present Premier League names were left on the bench as Senegal were held to a frustrating goalless draw with minnows Luxembourg.
Star man Sadio Mane watched on from the sidelines, joining the squad late following his involvement in the Champions League final with Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Stoke City pair Mame Biram Diouf and Badou N’Diaye were brought on at half-time before former West Ham United striker Diafra Sakho made a 25 minute substitute’s appearance.
Senegal completely dominated Thursday night’s meeting in Luxembourg, lacking the clinical edge to finish their hosts off.
The Teranga Lions enjoyed 71.6% possession and fired off 13 shots to Luxembourg’s two. However, only four of those were on target.
AC Milan striker M’Baye Niang, Monaco’s Keita Balde and Villarreal midfielder Alfred N’Diaye had the best chances of the first-half but couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Diouf’s introduction at half-time added some pace but Luxembourg goalkeeper Anthony Moris proved the hero as he made a string of saves to keep things level.
The only encouraging sign for Senegal was that the match represented their seventh clean sheet in eleven international matches.
Senegal XI (4-4-2): K N’Diaye; Wague, Kouyate, Koulibaly (Sane 45’), Ciss (Gassama 45’); Sarr (Sakho 65’), Gueye (B N’Diaye 45’), A N’Diaye (N’Doye 69’), Keita (Diouf 45’); Konate, Niang.
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MOROCCO 0-0 UKRAINE
Morocco manager Herve Renard experimented with a three-man defence and deployed attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech as a striker in a 0-0 draw with Ukraine.
Juventus centre-back and national team captain Medhi Benatia was taken off at half-time to keep him fresh, while Real Madrid’s Achraf Hakimi featured only as a substitute in light of his involvement in the Champions League final.
Even though the Atlas Lions failed to find the net there were impressive performances from Ziyech, who twice had chances well-saved by goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov, and defender Hamza Mendyl.
The Lille wing-back provided the cross for one of Ziyech’s efforts and made an important tackle to deny Ukraine’s best opportunity of the match when Marlos broke free in the second half.
Following the goalless stalemate in Geneva, Renard’s side is now unbeaten in 16 matches having kept clean sheets in 10 of them.
Ukraine manager Andriy Shevchenko said Morocco were “well organised, sharp and (playing) with good players.”
Renard will be hoping that another well-earned shut-out will give them the confidence to surprise Spain and Portugal in Group B later this month.
MOROCCO XI (3-4-1-2): Munir; Benatia (Hakimi 45’), Da Costa, Saiss; N Amrabat (Fajr 72′), El Ahmadi (Ait Bennasser 72’), Boussoufa (Bouhaddouz 64’), Mendyl (S Amrabat 83’); Belhanda; Ziyech, Boutaib (Harit 45’).
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World Cup previews by team
Group A – Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group B – Iran, Morocco, Portugal, Spain
Group C – Australia
