Croatia vs. Morocco Bet Builder Tips: 85/1 treble for Third Place Play Off decider

The third place play off may be overshadowed by the World Cup Final this weekend, but the scramble for bronze promises to be an intriguing one between two countries that have proved very difficult to beat in Qatar.

Here at BettingOdds, we've pieced together a meaty 85/1 Bet Builder courtesy of bet365...

It's not a nice feeling coming so close to a World Cup Final, only to agonisingly miss out.

However, both Croatia and Morocco can take immense pride from their respective adventures in Qatar. In the end they both lost to two of the best countries in the world in Argentina and France, there's absolutely no shame in that.

For Croatia, they've now finished in the top-four in the last two World Cups - finishing runners-up in 2018 - and famously knocked out tournament favourites Brazil.

Meanwhile, Morocco created history by becoming the first ever African side to reach the semi-finals, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal en-route.

The duo do, at least, have one more chance to finish on a winning note before they head home when they face off in the third place play off on Saturday at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan.

Croatia have been installed as the 11/8 favourites (Betfred), Morocco are priced at 21/10 (bet365), while a draw can be backed at 5/2 (SBK) - all odds are within 90 minutes.

Croatia are odds-on at 4/6 to claim third spot, with Morocco odds-against at 11/10.

The teams have already come up against each other this tournament, playing out a goalless draw in Group F, with a repeat scoreline in normal time available at 11/1.

Right, now it's time to take a closer look at our Bet Builder...

The first box we need to be ticked is a draw in 90 minutes, which is priced at 12/5.

It's funny to think that Croatia have played six matches so far and only won once outside of penalty shoot-outs. They are the absolute masters of extra-time and penalties.

A whopping four of those six matches have ended level at 90 minutes, including the goalless draw against Morocco in the group stages.

Two of Morocco's six games to date have been drawn in normal time. They've excelled as a defensive unit, keeping four clean sheets with France the only country to breach their backline - the other goal they conceded was an own-goal - and they will fancy their chances of hindering a Croatia attack that has fired blanks in three of their six games.

We could be in for another competitive yet cagey duel here, making the draw stand out as our first selection.

The second and third picks both come in the cards market, as we seek a couple of player bookings.

The two players in question lead their teams in tournament fouls at the 2022 World Cup, in Luka Modric and Sofyan Amrabat. In fact, only two players have committed more fouls than the duo who have each racked-up 13 in this department.

Modric has, perhaps, therefore been fortunate to have only received one yellow card so far - against Canada - although in the build-up to the World Cup the midfield maestro was booked in three of his last seven matches for Real Madrid. At 7/1 Modric looks a very big price to feature in the ref's book on Saturday.

Amrabat is no stranger to having a card wafted in his direction. He's been handed 10 yellows already this season for club (Fiorentina) and country, including in the Morocco 0-0 Canada match earlier in the tournament.

At 9/4, he's one of the leading contenders to be booked on Saturday, with the price lifting our Bet Builder treble to a tasty looking 85/1 with bet365.

As mentioned previously, bet365's Winnings Boost feature will adjust the current-priced 85/1 Bet Builder to include a 25% increase to your profits e.g. bet £5 at 85/1 and your potential returns will be increased to £536.25.