Andrej Kramaric has been given the nod in the Croatia attack for Wednesday's World Cup opener with Morocco.

Boss Zlatko Dalic had a number of options available to him, including Bruno Petkovic and Ante Budimir, but it is Hoffenheim striker Kramaric who will start down the centre of a front three.

Dalic also had decisions to make at full-back, and Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa have been preferred to Josip Stanisic and Borna Barisic.

The remainder of the starting XI is as expected with Luka Modric teaming with Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic in the middle of the pitch.

As for Morocco, there are fewer surprises with Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesryi both featuring in the final third and Achraf Hakimi beginning at right-back.

Noussair Mazraoui will deputise at left-back, the opposite flank to his role at club level with Bayern Munich, while Sofyan Amrabat will marshal the midfield.

The game at the Al Bayt Stadium is the first of two Group F fixtures on Wednesday with Belgium going up against Canada in Al Rayyan in the final match of the day.

Morocco: Bono; Hakimi, Saiss, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat; Ziyech, Amallah, Boufal; En-Nesyri

Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Kramaric, Perisic

Written by
Darren Plant