Morocco and Croatia played a goalless draw in the opening game of group F at the Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor), following in the steps of Tunisia who also held Denmark to a stalemate on Tuesday.
However the wait for an African team to score their first goal, at this edition of the World Cup, continues and the baton is now passed to Cameroon and Ghana.
It was a very intense encounter and Croatia probably underestimated Morocco, the Atlas Lions gave a good account of themselves and committed.
They also had chances to go ahead but struggled with composure in the final third. In an attacking sense Morocco struggled to get the goal but it was a contrast defensively as they kept the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic and Matteo Kovacic quiet.
Morocco tied Croatia in terms of shots on target with – 2 apiece – and saw 2 shots go off target.
Modric saw his effort sail, agonizingly, over the cross bar towards the end of the first half and Morocco also went close through a Noussair Mazraoui header.
They also registered a long range free-kick attempt from Achraf Hakimi, but both were thwarted by Dominik Livakovic.
Towards the end of the encounter, Morocco create lot of chances in quick transitions, but, couldn’t make anything out of it as La Masia Graduate Ez Abde was guilty for most misses.
However, the Moroccans will be encouraged by this display ahead of the clash with Belgium before taking on Canada in the final group game.
