- Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in the third place play-off
- Mislav Orsic scored the winning goal for Croatia
- Morocco earned the best ever performance from an African country
Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday evening to clinch bronze at the FIFA World Cup, a consolation after failing to make a second consecutive final. The 2018 runners up won the medal at the expense of the Moroccan fairytale, the North Africans becoming the best ever performing team at a World Cup.
“We are really happy and this is for all the people of Croatia. To finish with a medal in two World Cups is not an easy thing,” said Croatia tactician Zlatko Dalic.
Mislav Orsic scored the winning goal three minutes to half time. Morocco had equalized at 1-1 barely two minutes after Josko Gvardiol had given the Croats a lead. Achraf Dari scored the goal.
Flurry of attacks in first 10 minutes
Amrabat reacts. PHOTO/FIFA
The first 10 minutes were a flurry of attacks and Croatia broke the deadlock after just seven minutes when Gvardiol headed home from the edge of the six yard box off a brilliantly executed set piece.
The ball was floated to Ivan Perisic on the right, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder heading square to the edge of the inside box before Gvardiol did the rest, thumping a header past Bonou.
But, Morocco responded in similar fashion just two minutes later, again finishing off from a setpiece. This time, it was Dari, brought in to start ahead of the injured Roman Saiss, that powered home a header from inside the area.
The game was a see-saw affair and Croatia came closest once again after 23 minutes when Luka Modric struck a low shot from distance but Bonou slapped it away. The rebound almost fell on the feet of Perisic, but the keeper bounced back to parry it away.
Croatia go to the break in the lead
Luka Modric. PHOTO/FIFA
Morocco gradually grew into the game and started composing themselves well, but they could not do much in the final third with Soufiane Boufal and Hakim Ziyech having shots go wide.
Croatia went to the break in the lead when Orsic curled in what would be the winner from the left after Morocco struggled to clear the ball in their own area.
Orsic almost made it 3-1 just a minute into the second half but his effort was deflected wide for a corner.
Morocco tried to pump in some pressure and they had a chance when Youssef En Nesyri went through on goal, but his effort was saved off a one on one situation with the keeper. At the death, En Nesyri could have levelled the game for Morocco with another massive leap from a cross, but his header went just inches over.
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