World Cup 2022: Vice world champion Croatia starts with a draw – next Bayern player injured

Enlarge image

Bayern defender Noussair Mazraoui (middle) in a duel with superstar Luka Modrić

Photo:

Themba Hadebe/AP

Reigning runner-up Croatia started the World Cup in Qatar with a draw.

Luka Modrić's team couldn't get past a 0-0 draw against Morocco.

In a game without many goalscoring, Noussair Mazraoui was the next Bayern player to get injured.

The game started wildly in the opening stadium Al-Bait.

If so, coincidences made it dangerous.

Like in the sixth minute, when Selim Amallah tried to back out in the Moroccan penalty area, but shot himself.

Only: The Croatians were similarly unhappy when looking for a degree.

Croatia remained the more dangerous team.

A long-range shot by former Bundesliga player Ivan Perišić flew just over the goal (17'), Nikola Vlašić's direct acceptance after a low cross was denied by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, known as: Bono (45'+1).

Morocco stronger in the second round

Morocco turned out to be the expected difficult opponent.

And that despite the fact that there was a change of coach at the end of August: Walid Regragui succeeded the Bosnian Vahid Halilhodžić, who had messed things up with stars of the national team like Hakim Ziyech or Mazraoui.

Halilhodžić, who had previously announced in the Croatian media that he "definitely" did not want to watch this game, missed out on stronger Moroccans in the second half, who repeatedly came to switching situations.

Mazraoui missed the greatest chance with a diving header (51'), but injured his hip in the process.

He initially continued to play, but left the field a little later on a stretcher.

After the serious injury to Frenchman Lucas Hernández, it is the second Bayern player in 24 hours to be substituted with an injury.

hba