Croatia vs. Morocco Odds, Props & Picks: Who Has The Edge In World Cup Third-Place Clash?

Croatia and Morocco meet on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET in the penultimate match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Playing for third place is not what either country had in mind earlier this week, but Croatia and Morocco still enjoyed excellent showings in Qatar that exceeded expectations.

While Croatia failed to keep pace with Argentina in their semifinal loss on Tuesday, and Morocco had too many injuries to key players to upset France on Wednesday, expect both teams to enter Saturday’s awkward “bronze medal” consolation match – it would be understandable if neither side looked 100% engaged – determined to finish the tournament on a high note.

Here we look at Croatia vs. Morocco odds, props, and picks in the third-place match at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Croatia vs. Morocco Moneyline & Total for World Cup Clash

Here are the betting lines from top US sportsbooks for Croatia vs. Morocco. The odds are likely to change between now and kickoff, and it’s always advised to weigh the options at various sports betting apps to find the best sportsbook bonuses and prices.

These odds reflect the prices for both sides on the three-way line, where a bet on either team is a loss in the event of a draw. DraftKings lists the draw at +240.

Croatia vs. Morocco Moneyline Odds

The three-way moneyline prices apply only to what the scoreboard reads after 90 minutes of regulation (including stoppage time). That means that if you bet Croatia (or Morocco) to win, and they advance – or, in this case, finish third instead of fourth – in overtime or on PKs, your bet still goes down as a loss since the game was tied at the end of regulation.

If you think one side will advance to the next round but think it might happen after the match is tied through 90 minutes, take a look at odds to advance. For this match, Croatia are -135 to finish third, while Morocco are +110 on DraftKings. At FanDuel, the prices are Croatia -134 and Morocco +102. Caesars offers Morocco at -140 and Morocco at +100.

Croatia vs. Morocco Total

The total is set at 2.5 goals, with the Over and Under priced as a virtual coin flip. While the Under is enticing given how defensive-minded both sides have been throughout the World Cup (and the fact they played a 0-0 draw earlier in this tournament), the third-place game has historically seen plenty of goals.

Croatia vs. Morocco: World Cup History

Croatia qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 1998, and they’ve made it to every edition since — except in 2010. In six World Cup appearances, Croatia have been eliminated in group play three times, but when they’ve made it to knockout play, they’ve fared well, reaching the final in 2018 (where they lost to France) and the semifinals in 1998.

Morocco have already enjoyed by far their best World Cup run of all time. They are also making history for Africa, as they’re the first side from the continent and the first Arab nation to reach the semifinals. This year marked just the second time — and the first since 1986 — that Morocco advanced from World Cup group play. Morocco’s appearance at the 2018 World Cup was their first qualification since 1998.

Croatia-Morocco met in their tournament opener in Group F. That one ended in a 0-0 draw. That match is the only previous meeting between Croatia and Morocco.

Croatia Roster, Injuries, and Betting News

For most of the World Cup, Croatia seemed to be able to find a way to drag their opponent to penalty kicks, no matter what was thrown at them. But Lionel Messi and Argentina were too much for Luka Modric and Co. in the semifinals, as one shaky stretch in the first half put Croatia behind 2-0. Croatia had largely controlled the match until that point, but Argentina ended up cruising to the win after goals by Messi in the 34th minute and Julian Alvarez in the 39th.

Roster

Luka Modric gets most of the headlines for Croatia, but two emerging stars during this tournament have been center back Josko Gvardiol and keeper Dominik Livakovic. The Croatian midfield and back line, so stout throughout this World Cup, had some costly breakdowns against Argentina on the two first-half goals they allowed, and Messi embarrassed Gvardiol en route to the assist on the third goal that sealed the outcome in the 69th.

Injuries

Fitness-wise, the biggest question mark for Croatia is midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, who left the Argentina match in the 50th minute.

Morocco Roster, Injuries, and Betting News

Morocco’s formula worked to perfection for five matches, but injuries caught up to them in their semifinal loss to France. Morocco had been better defensively than anyone in Qatar, but an early breakdown put them down 1-0 against the French, and they never managed to answer despite a number of quality scoring opportunities.

Roster

The two most hyped Morocco players before the tournament were Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech.

Those two lived up to their reputations, and this tournament also served as a coming out party for several other Moroccan players. Keeper Bono, defenders Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, and Noussair Mazraoui, and midfielders Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi all enjoyed a breakout World Cup.

Injuries

Injuries on the back line were a major cause for concern ahead of the match against France. Sure enough, while Saiss and Mazraoui started, Morocco were without Aguerd, Saiss came off after 20 minutes, and Mazraoui was only able to play the first half.

With three integral players hobbled and/or out most of the match, Morocco were unable to completely stifle their opponent for the first time in the World Cup. Saiss, Aguerd, and Mazraoui could all miss Saturday’s clash with Croatia.

Croatia vs. Morocco Props

Below is a sampling of props for Croatia vs. Morocco.

Anytime Goalscorer (FanDuel):

• Youssef En-Nesyri: +230
• Bruno Petkovic, Andrej Kramaric: +240
• Abderrazak Hamdallah: +260
• Ante Budimir: +270

Correct Score (DraftKings):

• Croatia 1-0: +600
• Croatia 2-0: +950
• Croatia 2-1: +650
• Morocco 1-0: +700
• Morocco 2-0: +1400
• Morocco 2-1: +800
• 0-0: +1000
• 1-1: +425

Total Goal Props (DraftKings):

• Over 0.5 goals -2500, Under 0.5 goals: +1000
• Over 1.5 goals -360, Under 1.5 goals: +265
• Over 2.5 goals -110, Under 2.5 goals: -110
• Over 3.5 goals +235, Under 3.5 goals: -300

Croatia vs. Morocco Broadcast Info: Where to Watch

• Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. ET
• Location: Khalifa International Stadium

Watch this match at one of the following:

• FOX
• Fox Sports App
• Peacock
• Telemundo

Croatia vs. Morocco Prediction: Morocco 1, France 0

Given how scrappy both teams have been throughout the tournament, this match will likely be a lot more intense than the typical battle for third place at the World Cup. If this is the last time Modric takes the pitch with his international teammates, you can bet they’ll be engaged, but it’s hard to see Croatia generating quality scoring chances, even if Morocco are once again shorthanded.

I expect a low-scoring match, but I like Morocco to pull this one out.

Here are two bets available at DraftKings that are worth checking out:

• Both Teams To Score – No (+120)
• Morocco Win and Under 3.5 (+255)