The two great underdog stories of the 2022 FIFA World Cup have one final chapter to play out, with Croatia vs Morocco determining which team will leave as the third-best on the planet.
It’s somewhat fitting that the first game of the tournament for both of these teams will also be their last, but with much more on the line, will the third place play-off produce more than the opening stalemate?
Here’s a look at what the odds are saying for the third place play-off at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Croatia vs Morocco Best Odds
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Both Teams to Score -155
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Over 2.5 Goals -125
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Luka Modrić to Score Anytime +360
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Tie No Bet Morocco +110
Close Game to Call
In the semi-finals, both Croatia and Morocco had their chances, but in the end, the momentum generated by the two Group F qualifiers was brought to a halt by two exceedingly strong teams.
Now, the World Cup odds outright see France to win and Kylian Mbappé to be the top scorer at +188, with Argentina and Lionel Messi to do the same at +200.
After giving away a 34th-minute penalty, the uphill battle for Croatia became all the more difficult, especially with Messi in the mood to punish the Kockasti.
Messi sending the penalty past Dominik Livaković allowed Argentina to sit back and wait for opportunities, or wait for their talisman to craft them himself. Julián Álvarez scored twice, but this was Messi’s game.
On the stats sheet, Croatia had more shots, controlled a good 60 percent of the possession, and won more aerials, but they couldn’t breach the coverage of Emiliano Martínez.
The 3-0 scoreline doesn’t reflect Croatia’s efforts.
Morocco, perhaps expecting a cautious opening, was thrown behind just five minutes in after Theo Hernández’s acrobatic finish in front of Yassine Bounou.
Some dubious decisions from the referee made it quite a frustrating game for both sides, but overall, France’s ability to break away kept Morocco in check.
Still, we did get to see how the Atlas Lions play with the majority of the ball. Morocco kept possession well, crafted nearly as many shots as Les Bleus (14-13), and forced Hugo Lloris into some spectacular saves.
Mere seconds after coming on, however, Randal Kolo Muani would all but put the game to bed, scoring in the 79th minute.
Croatia vs Morocco looks to be a close game, and third place play-offs can bring the best and worst out of teams. Croatia may feel dejected after missing out on the final, while Morocco still hunts history.
The tie no bet odds have Croatia at -155 to win and Morocco at +110, with the spread similarly favouring Croatia at -1 with +340 odds, while Morocco is out at +510 with the -1 handicap.
Given their respective successes in penalty shootouts and seeing games through 120 minutes, some will like the look of Morocco to win on penalties at +1000 or Croatia to do likewise also at +1000.
So, we meet again. 👋 @EnMaroc #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 #Vatreni❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/8ojw3EC3aw
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) December 14, 2022
A More Open Affair Than The First Meet
Morocco vs Croatia opened Group F, showcasing a cagey game that was far more tense than expected. Ending 0-0, Croatia dictated the pace of the game, but Morocco had the better chances.
Achraf Hakimi was, by some margin, the best player for the Atlas Lions, while centre-back Dejan Lovren was the main reason why Croatia managed to keep a clean sheet.
Now, both sides have lost the shimmer of their heroic defensive and goalkeeping efforts, so perhaps goals are on the table in the third place play-off.
Both teams to score is certainly expected at -155, as is over 2.5 goals at -125. While both sides were kept out in the semi-finals, they should be more open knowing that the bronze is all that’s left.
He’s been kept off of the scoresheet all tournament, but with this being his last World Cup game, people will be looking to Luka Modrić to take the game by the scruff of the neck and try to make good on his odds of +360 to score anytime.
In the betting, though, Ivan Perišić is more favoured to score anytime at +260, as is Morocco’s frontman, Youssef En-Nesyri, with odds of +210 to get his third of the 2022 World Cup.
Croatia will be looking to give their star veterans a big send-off, while Morocco targets a new bar for African teams at the World Cup. In the odds, though, the Europeans are narrowly favoured.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 15th December 2022
