The two Blues both started for Croatia and Morocco respectively, with Ziyech appearing at the tournament nine months after announcing his retirement from international football following a change in national team manager.

Walid Regragui is the new man in charge and he started Ziyech wide on the right in a 4-3-3 system, handing the 29-year-old his 44th international cap. Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi and former Wolves defender Romain Saiss made up the other household names in the Morocco starting 11.

For Croatia, Kovacic started alongside Marcelo Brozovic and Luka Modric in a familiar midfield trio, with RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol at the heart of defence amid the lunchtime heat of Al Khor. There were just four starters from the 2018 World Cup final in the Croatia side.

Tottenham’s Ivan Perisic went close for Croatia midway through the first half, picking up a loose pass 40 yards out and driving forward before unleashing a rising left-footed strike that flew narrowly over the crossbar.

It momentarily brought the contest to life and Ziyech was soon involved down the other end, combining neatly with Hakimi on the right touchline before swinging in a teasing delivery that Youssef En-Nesyri ought to have made a firmer connection with in the air.

The Atlas Lions had the better of the first period without providing any further serious threat on Dominik Livakovic’s goal, with Croatia fashioning a promising opportunity in stoppage time at the end of the first period when Nikola Vlasic was denied from close range after a low cross from Borna Sosa.

Both sides pushed for a breakthrough goal after the interval but faced stubborn defensive resistance. Mario Pasalic, who spent six years as a Chelsea player albeit all of that time out on loan, was introduced as the 2018 World Cup runners-up tightened their grip on proceedings.

Yet the sternest test posed to Morocco’s Sevilla keeper Yassine Bounou was a swerving 35-yarder from Hakimi, teed up by Ziyech from a free-kick some distance out. Croatia also survived a penalty appeal after Sofiane Boufal's shot appeared to hit the arm of his former Southampton team-mate Dejan Lovren.

In truth, there was little to separate the two teams across the 90 minutes and a share of the spoils was probably the fairest result, with the game fizzling out late on as the one point was protected.

Kovacic was withdrawn with 11 minutes remaining, perhaps with one eye on Sunday’s clash with Canada. Morocco’s next assignment is against the team currently second in FIFA's world rankings, Belgium.