FIFA World Cup: Modric’s Croatia plays goalless draw against Morocco in opening Group F fixture

With a 0-0 stalemate against a determined Morocco on Wednesday, Croatia’s World Cup campaign got off to a halting start as the 2018 runners-up lacked the punch of the team that came so close in Russia.

At Al Bayt Stadium, opportunities were scarce as a close Group F match generated little goalmouth action and resulted in the tournament’s third scoreless draw in the first nine games.

Both teams had opportunities to score; at the end of the first half, Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic came close, and Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui saw a header saved.

Now, Croatia will concentrate on its Sunday match against Canada, while Morocco will play Belgium.

Luka Modric, who was allowed free reign of the field and appeared to be exempt from the usual midfield duties in football, was the center of Croatia’s best plays, as was predictable.

Giroud receives his flowers during the FIFA World Cup on the day he became a French icon.

Whether he was hovering at right-back or hunting farther forward, he was constantly trying to open up the north Africans. One moment he was patrolling in front of his back four, the next he was hanging off the shoulder of Andrej Kramaric up front.

Hakim Ziyech was the main source of inspiration for Morocco, and the Chelsea winger, who was added back to the team after Walid Regragui was named coach, was their most dangerous offensive outlet in the early going, despite the fact that his hard effort went unrewarded.

Even though there wasn’t much activity, the competition was intense as both teams fought for control of the middle. Before Vlasic’s low effort was saved by Yassine Bounou in the dying seconds of the first half, neither goal had been seriously threatened.

More action occurred in the opening five minutes of the second half when Dominik Livakovic saved Mazraoui’s header after Morocco had clamorous claims for a penalty waved away when Sofiane Boufal’s shot looked to strike Dejan Lovren’s arm.

Until center-back Josko Gvardiol’s header went wide in the 80th minute, Lovren’s attempt on the slide at the other end was blocked by Sofyan Amrabat. However, that was about as good as it got for Croatia.