The third-place play-off for World Cup 2022 takes place on Saturday 17 December at the Khalifa International Stadium, as Croatia go up against Morocco. Kick-off is at 15:00 GMT.
It’s a rematch of their opening Group F meeting, which finished 0-0. From here, both nations progressed to the semi-finals without defeat.
Both sides have made several alterations to their starting line-ups, with full-backs Borna Sosa ($3.5m) and Josip Juranovic ($5.0m) benched as two of Croatia’s five.
Dejan Lovren ($4.5m), Marcelo Brozovic ($6.0m) and Mario Pasalic ($5.0m) also make way, with Josip Stanisic ($4.0m), Josip Sutalo ($4.5m), Lovro Majer ($5.0m), Marko Livaja ($5.0m) and Mislav Orsic ($5.0m) coming in to enable an apparent switch from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1.
Morocco have had a wonderful tournament, becoming the first African side to ever reach the semi-final.
To face France, they initially took a calculated risk on three defensive injury doubts – Nayef Aguerd ($4.0m), Romain Saiss ($4.5m) and Noussair Mazraoui ($5.0m) – which all happened to backfire.
Aguerd was removed for Achraf Dari ($4.5m) just before kick-off, whilst the other two gone were by the second half. None of this trio can start, with midfielder Azzedine Ounahi ($5.0m) also named as a substitute.
In a 4-3-3 system, the incoming names are Yahya Attiat-Allah ($3.5m), Bilal El Khannouss ($4.0m) and Abdelhamid Sabiri ($4.0m).
Popular picks Ivan Perisic ($7.5m), Luka Modric ($8.5m), Hakim Ziyech ($7.0m) and Achraf Hakimi ($5.0m) all start.
MATCHDAY 7 LINE-UPS
Croatia XI (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Perisic; Modric, Kovacic; Kramaric, Majer, Orsic; Livaja
Morocco XI (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi, Dari, El Yamiq, Attiat-Allah; Amrabat, El Khannouss, Sabiri; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
WATCH EVERY WORLD CUP GAME LIVE IN TALKSPORT’S FAN ZONE!
BOOK TICKETS HERE
With Euro 2024 kicking off this week, Fantasy Football Scout has an exclusive Premium Membership offer!
Our special Euros package is a 40% discount to our full-price Premium Membership, so for only £3.25 per month (billed annually), you get access to our unique Premium Members Area, which has all the data you need to succeed in Euro Fantasy.
Premium Members can now get that extra edge for their preparations with official Euro 2024 qualification and friendly data, as well as all the usual benefits like team reveals, a fixture ticker, expert strategy tips and more.
1 year, 6 months agoDouble up on Morocco or Croatia defense?