LOVREN: WE NEED MOR IN FINAL THIRD
DEJAN LOVREN admitted that his Croatia side had nowhere to hide after a drab goalless draw.
The 2018 runners-up opened their Qatar World Cup campaign with just five shots against a determined Morocco side – with only two of those on target.
Both were well kept out by impressive keeper Yassine Bounou, with West Ham’s summer signing Nayef Aguerd and former Wolves defender Romain Saiss both solid at the back for the African team.
Ex-Liverpool defender Lovren (above, centre) said Croatia got what they expected from Morocco, but lamented a lack of composure from his side’s attack.
“To be honest we weren’t surprised at all,” said Lovren, who joined Zenit Saint Petersburg from the Reds in 2020.
“When you look at the players and the clubs they play in, they are fantastic. It was a tough game for us.
“We had some moments but it wasn’t good enough, and it is a fair point.
“We missed some chances to finish our attacks. Everyone was expecting us to win this game, but Morocco also missed chances so they could easily have won, too.”
With Croatia seeking inspiration from captain Luka Modric, they started the game well but were quickly pinned back by an energetic Morocco team.
Tottenham’s Ivan Perisic fired an effort over the bar during Croatia’s first real spell of pressure, which led to their two best chances of the match shortly before half-time.
A Modric through ball sent Andrej Kramaric racing towards goal, but Bounou was quick off his line to punch the ball away.
It fell to Croatia left-back Borna Sosa and when his low delivery was turned towards goal by Nikola Vlasic, keeper Bounou smothered the former Everton star’s close-range effort.
Morocco grew into the game in the second half.
Ex-Southampton winger Sofiane Boufal appealed for a penalty when his long range effort struck Lovren on the upper arm, with the ball falling to Noussair Mazraoui who saw his header saved by Dominik Livakovic.
A scramble from a corner led to Lovren’s effort being blocked, but that was about as much as Croatia had to offer in the afternoon heat.
Achraf Hakimi looked to win it for Morocco late on, but his free-kick from long range was well beaten away by Livakovic.