Croatia edge Morocco to claim a third FIFA World Cup podium finish thanks to first half goals from Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic in either side of ab Achraf Dari’s maiden international goal.
Croatia took an early lead in the seventh minute following a free-kick won after a Sofyan Amrabat’s foul on Andrej Kramaric in the Morocco half.
The resulting set-piece was neatly worked between Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic, with the later sending a cross into the box, which was met by the header of Josko Gvardiol for his first goal of the tournament.
It was only the fourth goal Morocco have conceded in the tournament, and the first time they have conceded in back to back games under their animated manager, Walid Regragui.
Morocco were not behind for too long though as under two minutes after putting Croatia in front, Gvardiol conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position.
Hakim Ziyech sent his delivery into the box and it took a bounce off Lovro Majer before falling kindly into the path of Achraf Dari, who heads home from close range to restore parity before the ninth minute.
Dari only earned his first cap for Morocco in June and with that header, he becomes the first ever African to score in a FIFA World Cup third place playoff match and only the first African-born player to score in the round since Eusebio for Portugal in 1966.
Croatia nearly regained the lead in the 24th minute following a sequence of poor clearance by the Morocco defence. The ball fell to Modric, who lose his man before firing a low cross spilled by Yassine Bonou, who gathered in time on a second attempt with Ivan Perisic lurking.
Croatia finally retake the lead three minutes from the end of the first 45 minutes. Majer lined up a shot but his heavy touch took the ball away but Croatia managed to keep the attack alive.
Marko Livaja knocked the ball out to Mislav Orsic on the left side of the box. The Dinamo Zagreb striker hit a first time curling shot, which sailed just over the outstretched hand of Yassine Bonou and into the back of the net for 2-1.
Croatia went into the half time break with a one goal lead. They had a penalty shout waved away in the second half after Gvardiol was fouled in the area by Amrabat but the referee and the VAR both agreed their was nothing to give.
Just moments after, Morocco were presented a great chance to level up again as Gvardiol’s flicked clearance fell to Youssef En-Nesyri. The striker striked the ball but Dominik Livakovic made himself big enough to smoother.
None of the sides was able to add to the first half goals and Croatia see out a 2-1 win and claimed their second FIFA World Cup bronze title, after first winning it in France, 1998 by beating the Netherlands by the same score line of 2-1.
Morocco finished third and despite losing their final two games in the tournament, they have indeed done the unthinkable as they not only become the first African to reach the semis but also score in a third place playoff.
Croatia have now finished in podium places in 50 per cent of the FIFA World Cup tournaments they have played in since becoming an independent nation.
They won Bronze in 1998, silver in 2018 and now another bronze in 2022. Another proud moment for the country, who have lost only two of their last 14 FIFA World Cup games.
For Morocco, the challenge is on for them to maintain consistency in the performance they have showed in Qatar while is it also a wake up call for other African nation.
France and Argentina play in the curtain drawer on Sunday to determine who will be champions in Qatar.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
