Morocco predicted lineup vs Croatia - World Cup third-place play-off

Morocco face Croatia on Saturday afternoon assured of their best-ever World Cup performance but with the bonus of a third-place spot in sight.

Walid Regragui roused his squad after the semi-final defeat to France by stressing the impact of his side's run. "I told the players I was proud of them," Regragui revealed, "his majesty is proud, the Moroccan people are proud, the whole world is proud."

Here's the XI Regragui may deploy to ensure that pride swells with what would be the first World Cup bronze medal for an African nation.

Morocco predicted lineup vs Croatia (4-3-3)

Sofyan Amrabat hasn't missed a minute for Morocco at the World Cup / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

GK: Yassine Bounou - In five appearances at this World Cup, Bounou has faced just seven shots on target, fewer than Wales' Danny Ward who was afforded just 94 minutes in Qatar.

RB: Achraf Hakimi - Morocco's star fullback managed to stop his PSG colleague and friend Kylian Mbappe from scoring in the semi-final but couldn't preserve a fourth clean sheet of the tournament.

CB: Achraf Dari - The towering 23-year-old calls his mum before important matches - an example of parental influence which is a key facet for his manager. When he took over the national team, Regragui said: “Our success is not possible without our parents’ happiness.”

CB: Jawad El Yamiq - Right on the cusp of halftime, El Yamiq was denied an acrobatic equaliser by Hugo Lloris' glove and the post in Morocco's semi-final defeat to France. The wait for his first competitive international goal goes on.

LB: Yahya Attiyat Allah - Only given his debut this year - as a 27-year-old - Attiyat Allah's first defeat in a Moroccan shirt was the semi-final against France.

CM: Azzedine Ounahi - The 22-year-old Angers midfielder is set to be the latest World Cup star performer to prompt a post-tournament transfer.

CM: Sofyan Amrabat - The only Moroccan player to have started and finished every match at this World Cup may be granted the opportunity to continue his ever-presence.

CM: Selim Amallah - Left out of the semi-final starting XI as Regragui switched to a back-three against France, Amallah may be ushered back into the fold for the bronze final.

RW: Hakim Ziyech - One of nine children, Ziyech lost his father as a seven-year-old but fostered a love for Morocco's national team before he passed. "As a boy, I watched all the games of the Atlas Lions with my father," the Netherlands-born Ziyech remembered, "and he would have been delighted at my decision.”

ST: Youssef En-Nesyri - The regular subject of ire from frustrated supporters, En-Nesyri pleaded for constructive criticism. "I call on supporters who criticise me to not do it using insults. Our families are also on social media and they read your insults too.”

LW: Sofiane Boufal - No player at this World Cup has been subbed off more frequently than Boufal, who has seen his number flashed up on the fourth officials board in each and every match in Qatar.

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