Croatia and Morocco meet in the third-place play-off of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. So, HITC Football has taken a look at Vatreni and the Atlas Lions’ all-time head-to-head record.
Well, the bronze spoon match at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday, December 17 is actually the second time these two teams have met at Qatar 2022. FIFA drew Croatia and Morocco with Belgium and Canada in Group F. They also met for their opening fixture.
Neither Croatia nor Morocco would find a breakthrough at Al Bayt Stadium when they met on November 23. But the Atlas Lions beating Belgium 2-0 and Canada 2-1 meant the North Africans took the top spot to Vatreni. Croatia beat Canada 4-1 then drew 0-0 with Belgium.
Morocco would build on topping Group F by beating Spain in the Round of 16 and Portugal in the quarter-finals. But France cut their fairy tale short as the defending champions made the 2022 final. Yet Morocco still became the first African nation to make a World Cup semi.
Croatia lost to France in the 2018 World Cup final and came within 90 minutes of a repeat tie at Qatar 2022. Vatreni eliminated Japan in the last 16 and Brazil in the quarters, both in penalty shootouts. But Argentina took a 3-0 win in their semi-final for a date with France.
What is the all-time head-to-head record of Croatia vs Morocco?
So, what is Croatia and Morocco’s all-time head-to-head record ahead of their 2022 World Cup third-place play-off? Well, whichever nation wins the Khalifa International Stadium tie can also make some history. Neither side has yet beaten the other in regular or extra time.
The opening Group F tie at Qatar 2022 between Croatia and Morocco was also the second match in their head-to-head-record. Vatreni and the Atlas lions had only previously met in 1996 at the Hassan II Trophy. That tie also ended as a 2-2 draw before a penalty shootout.
So, the head-to-head record between Croatia and Morocco before their World Cup third-place play-off is two draws from two games during regular or extra time. Vatreni won 7-6 in their penalty shootout against the Atlas Lions at the 1996 running of the Hassan II Trophy.
Thus, if Croatia or Morocco wins in regular or extra time on Saturday, they will also secure the first win in this particular game outside of a penalty shootout across all competitions. The World Cup third-place play-off will also go to penalties if it is still level after extra time.
Will the 2022 World Cup third-place play-off go to extra time and penalties?
FIFA does not differentiate the third-place play-off from any other knockout stage game at a World Cup. So, if neither Croatia nor Morocco can find a go-ahead goal in the normal 90 minutes, extra time will be needed. Penalties will also be needed if level after 120 minutes.
There is also a strong chance that the third-place play-off between Vatreni and the Atlas Lions requires additional time. Since drawing their opening Group F fixture 0-0, both have struggled to score. Croatia have just six goals in six games and Morocco have hit five in six.
Croatia may have the edge over Morocco once again in a shootout if their second clash at Qatar 2022 requires penalties. Vatreni beat Japan 3-1 and Brazil 4 -2 in shootouts to reach the semi-finals this winter. They also eliminated Denmark and Russia on penalties in 2018.
Out of Croatia’s last seven World Cup knockout stage ties, only the 2018 final with France and their 2022 semi against Argentina did not require additional time. They beat England 2-1 in extra time during the semi-finals of Russia 2018 after 3-2 and 4-3 shootout victories.
Morocco invited Croatia to the 1996 edition of the Hassan II Trophy
Before Qatar 2022, Morocco and Croatia had only played once but will now meet twice at the World Cup in three weeks. Their first encounter was also 26 years ago when the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) invited Vatreni to play in the first Hassan II Trophy.
The FRMF held the Hassan II Trophy every other year between 1996 and 2000 as the warm-up event to a major international tournament. Croatia joined Morocco, the Czech Republic and Nigeria in playing at the first-ever edition ahead of the 1996 European Championships.
It was formatted with two semi-finals and a final, hence the need for penalties as Croatia beat Morocco. The Czech Republic beat Nigeria 2-1 in the other before then losing 4-1 on penalties to Croatia after a 1-1 draw. Morocco beat Nigeria 2-0 in the third-place play-off.
The FRMF did not invite Croatia back ahead of the 1998 World Cup or Euro 2000. Instead, France joined England and Belgium as the 1998 Hassan II Trophy used a group format with two games each. It returned to a knockout format in 2000 with France, Japan and Jamaica.
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