Luka Modric earns his 162nd cap as he starts for Croatia in Saturday’s World Cup third-place play-off against Morocco at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic made five changes from the team beaten 3-0 by Argentina in the semi-finals, bringing Lovro Majer into the midfield in place of Marcelo Brozovic.
Josip Stanisic and Josip Sutalo come in for their first appearances of the tournament in defence as Dejan Lovren and Josip Juranovic drop to the bench.
Mislav Orsic and Marko Livaja are also included from the start in a repeat of a Group F match against Morocco last month, which finished 0-0.
Hakim Ziyech captains Morocco, with Romain Saiss among the substitutes after injury forced him off early in the 2-0 semi-final loss to France.
Belgium-born teenager Bilal El Khannouss is handed his Morocco debut in midfield alongside Abdelhamid Sabiri. Yahya Attiat-Allah gets the nod at left-back in the absence of Noussair Mazraoui.
World Cup News
-
Football
/ 1 week agoSon scores but Thailand hold South Korea in World Cup qualifier
Son Heung-min scored but South Korea were held 1-1 at home by Thailand in...
By AFP -
Football
/ 2 weeks agoJapan-N. Korea World Cup game to stay in Pyongyang, JFA says
Japan’s World Cup qualifier against North Korea will be played in Pyongyang as planned...
By AFP -
Football
/ 3 weeks agoGerman ex-FA bosses on trial over World Cup tax evasion
Three German ex-top football officials went on trial on Monday in a 13.7-million-euro ($14.8...
By AFP -
Football
/ 4 weeks agoSaudi Arabia formally launches bid for 2034 World Cup
Saudi Arabia formally launched its bid to host the 2034 World Cup on Friday,...
By AFP