Croatia and Morocco would much rather be playing tomorrow than today. But now that they're here they might as well give it all they've got. The third-place playoff arguably means more to the Atlas Lions as a memento of their best ever World Cup showing. However, with some of their Golden Generation set to turn their backs on international football for good, Croatia will want to sign-off on a positive note too. Here's how to watch a Croatia vs Morocco live stream in the third-place playoff of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar today.
Ivan Perisic has been Croatia's main attacking threat throughout this tournament, but Zlatko Dalic has opted to mix things up today by playing him at left-back. Marcelo Brozovic drops out of the starting lineup with a thigh tweak he picked up in midweek, so Lovro Majer starts alongside Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic in midfield.
Three of Morocco's four first-choice defenders are injured, including captain Romain Saiss, so Achraf Hakimi is joined by Jawad El Yamiq, Achraf Dari and Yahia Attiyat-Allah in a makeshift backline. Otherwise it's as they were, with Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal flanking Youssef En-Nesyri in attack.
Dates: Saturday, 17 December
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium
FREE live stream: BBC iPlayer
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The third-place playoff can be an under-appreciated spectacle. Croatia and Morocco played out a goalless draw at the start of the tournament but, with the pressure of the last three weeks largely alleviated, the teams involved in this fixture tend to play with a far greater sense of freedom than before, and, as a result, we've been treated to more than a few goalfests over the years.
Croatia's uber-pragmatic approach in Qatar means we haven't got to see much from their star man, Modric, at what will surely be his last World Cup. Largely restricted to a workhorse role throughout the tournament, the Real Madrid midfielder will be desperate to offer a reminder of his capabilities with the ball at his feet before bowing out of international football.
Morocco have won countless admirers for the outrageous flicks, tricks and flourishes they've used to transform defense into attack, and this game gives us the chance to see one of football's most mesmerizing and bonkers tactics in action one last time. Sofyan Amrabat in full pomp never disappoints either.
Croatia vs Morocco kicks off at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan at 3pm GMT / 10am ET today. Follow our guide on how to watch a Croatia vs Morocco live stream wherever you are, starting with how to watch every World Cup game for FREE in the UK.
Croatia vs Morocco live stream: watch every World Cup 2022 game for FREE in the UK
Watch a Croatia vs Morocco live stream from any country
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Croatia vs Morocco team news
Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic was substituted early in the second-half of their clash with Argentina with a thigh twinge, and sits this one out as a result.
Croatia team: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Gvardiol; Orisic, Majer, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic; Livaja, Kramaric
Morocco skipper Romain Saiss, who's been one of the standout players of the tournament, had been playing through a hamstring injury but it finally gave way against France, and he'll be watching this game from the dugout. Fellow defensive colleagues Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui have also been carrying injuries, and aen't being risked ahead of the return of domestic football.
Morocco team: Bounou; Hakimi, Dari, El Yamiq, Attiat-Allah; El Khannouss, Amrabat, Sabiri; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
World Cup 2022 fixtures
(All times GMT. Take away 5 hours for ET. Add 11 hours for AEDT.)
THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFF
Saturday, December 17
3pm - Croatia vs Morocco
2022 WORLD CUP FINAL
Sunday, December 18
3pm - Argentina vs France
