Luka Modric (L) of Croatia vies with Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
AL KHOR, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- With four shots on target the entire game, Croatia was held to a 0-0 draw by Morocco in their World Cup Group F match at Al Bayt Stadium here on Wednesday.
Following a slow start, Morocco created chaos in the 12th minute, allowing Achraf Hakimi to fire from just inside the box, but the ball was collected by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic after a deflection.
Four minutes later, Selim Amallah's cross was caught by Ivan Perisic wide open in the middle, whose shot went just above the bar.
Croatia had their best chance in the first half just before the break, when Borna Sosa collected a loose ball on the left and set it up for Nikola Vlasic, but was denied by the keeper.
The 2018 World Cup runners-up struggled to push forward with Morocco's high press, only for Luka Modric to pull back deep in the defense to receive the ball.
Morocco won a free-kick in the 64th minute when Hakimi's powerful shot was punched away by Livakovic.
Both teams had then created several chances but none of them was good enough to break the deadlock. ■
Marcelo Brozovic (R) of Croatia vies with Selim Amallah of Morocco during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Yassine Bounou (top), goalkeeper of Morocco, picks the ball during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Hakim Ziyech (R) of Morocco vies with Borna Sosa of Croatia during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Mateo Kovacic (bottom R) of Croatia and Selim Amallah (bottom L) of Morocco fall down during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Josip Juranovic (L) of Croatia vies with Abde Ezzalzouli of Morocco during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Abde Ezzalzouli (R) of Morocco vies with Dejan Lovren (C) of Croatia during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Josip Juranovic (L) of Croatia vies with Abde Ezzalzouli (C) of Morocco during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Luka Modric (3rd L) of Croatia pulls Selim Amallah (2nd L) of Morocco during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Selim Amallah (L) of Morocco takes a shot during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Ivan Perisic (top) of Croatia vies for a header during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Marcelo Brozovic (L) of Croatia passes during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Josip Juranovic (L) of Croatia reacts during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Nikola Vlasic (R) of Croatia vies with Sofiane Boufal of Morocco during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Azzedine Ounahi (bottom) of Morocco tackles Mateo Kovacic (top R) of Croatia during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Ivan Perisic (bottom L) of Croatia and Abde Ezzalzouli (bottom R) of Morocco fall down during the Group F match between Morocco and Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
