Group F: Morocco vs Croatia (1 pm) Al Bayt Stadium V
A confident Morocco all set for opener ‘Croatia must turn the page after 2018 WC’
Walid Regragui is banking on his side’s exhaustive preparations to snatch an important victory today Skipper Luka Modric wants squad to focus on delivering on the biggest stage once again
ON the eve of their World Cup opener against Croatia, the Moroccan national football team were a confident lot despite being aware that their opponents were the runners-up in the previous edition of the tournament.
“We are eagerly awaiting the whistle. We have prepared ourselves strongly for this important confrontation,” Moroccan coach Walid Regragui said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Regragui said Croatia had some special players like their captain Luka Modric, the Spanish Real Madrid midfielder. But the Moroccan side is formidable too.
The coach underscored the importance of Hakim Ziyach, who plays for Chelsea. “The Moroccan national team needs Hakim Ziyach in tomorrow’s match, and I am glad that he is back to the national team and everyone in Morocco is waiting for what he will offer to his country”.
He said: “We also have many big players like Sofian Boufal, Nasir Mazraoui and Ashraf Hakimi.”
Morocco defender Romain Saïss highlighted the need to play with great caution against a team like Croatia. “It’s different when we talk about the World Cup, and undoubtedly we play under pressure and we have some injuries that were not good for us, but we have a lot of determination.”
He said the team’s morale is high. “The opening match of the World Cup is very important
and we will work to deliver a performance that satisfies the Moroccan fans”.
Both Regragui and Saiss praised the Saudi team for their historic victory against Argentina.
Saïss said he had sent a short message to Saudi coach Renard before the match, wishing him success. “I am happy with what he has already achieved, and we hope that we will be able to follow this path and snatch an important victory tomorrow”.
Morocco is participating in the World Cup for the sixth time, and the second in a row. They will aim to repeat the performance in 1986 when they reached the round of 16 and go further.
Morocco are in Group F with Belgium, Canada, and Croatia.
LU K A Modric feels Croatia must be ready to write a new chapter in their World Cup history in Qatar. Zlatko Dalic’s side reached the final four years ago, where they were beaten by France.
While Croatia - who knocked England out in the semi-finals - may not have been one of the pre-tournament favourites in Russia, they arrived in Qatar with a renewed level of expectation on the back of an impressive Nations League campaign.
Croatia open their Group F match against Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Wednesday.
Real Madrid midfielder Modric wants the squad to focus on delivering the required performance on the biggest stage once again.
“What we went through in 2018 was an unforgettable experience, indelible in our minds,” said the Croatia captain, who collected the Golden Ball award in Russia for the tournament’s best player.
“We will continue speaking of it and having recollections for the rest of our lives, but we need to put it aside now. We have to focus on what is ahead of us.
“Many players that were at the Russia World Cup are not here, new players have come, quality young players with fresh energy. This is a new tournament and we have to look at it that way.
“We are expected to play our hearts out, to give our best and to leave the last atom of strength on the pitch.
“If this means we get good results, then great - if not, we have to keep our heads high knowing we gave our best.” Modric, 37, accepts he is likely to be playing in his last World Cup, and comes into the showpiece tournament after helping Real Madrid win another Champions League crown. “I would like us to play a great tournament as a team and me as an individual player, that is the only thing I have on my mind,” the former Tottenham midfielder said.
“What we will do and what we will win, we will see, but we have great faith in our abilities.” Croatia coach Dalic will not underestimate Morocco as they look to follow Saudi Arabia’s shock win over Argentina and Tunisia’s battling goalless draw with Denmark.