World Cup 2022: Croatia beat Morocco to finish third

While we wait to see what the final between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappé's France has in store, on Sunday at 15:00 (GMT), Croatia and Morocco put on a fine show in the third-place play-off. It was a complete contrast to their first meeting in the group stage (0-0). In a fast-paced game in which both sides traded neat touches, slick combinations and technical precision, it was Croatia who ultimately got the better of the Atlas Lions (2-1). Having finished runners-up at the World Cup in Russia in 2018, the Croats end the Qatar 2022 World Cup in third place. It was a fitting way for them to say thank you to their captain and creative leader, Luka Modric (37), who was playing in his last World Cup.

LM10 🔴⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/KBWZbMmeif

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 17, 2022

Inspired Croats

After being thoroughly off the pace in their semi-final against Argentina (3-0), Croatia rediscovered their composure and their fluid play in midfield. Luka Modric and company looked sharp against the Moroccan warriors, as shown by Joško Gvardiol's opening goal (7th minute). From a free kick taken from distance, Lovro Majer worked the ball out to the left of the box for Ivan Perišić. He nodded it back towards the middle for Joško Gvardiol, whose diving header found the left side of the goal.

Two goals in ten minutes

But Morocco had no time to dwell on it. Achraf Dari hit back two minutes later with a fine header of his own (9th minute, 1-1). Buoyed by the equaliser, Walid Regragui's men stepped up the combinations and high-intensity runs in an attempt to unsettle the Croatian defence, but left themselves open to the counter-attack. From a powerful low drive, Luka Modric thought he had put his side back in front, but Yassine Bounou stretched to his full height to push the ball away. He then came out again to clear decisively in front of Marko Livaja, who had followed up.

The breakthrough eventually came from Mislav Oršić for Zlatko Dalić's side. In one of their rare spells of pressure, Marko Livaja slid a lovely ball to the left of the box for Mislav Oršić. The Dinamo Zagreb midfielder controlled it and curled a beauty into the top right corner of Yassine Bounou's goal (42nd minute). Morocco pushed in the second half but were denied by Dominik Livaković, who made a decisive save from a Youssef En-Nesyri shot (75th minute). Solid to the end, Croatia take the bronze medal.

🗣️#HRV #MAR | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/0KrclYqVwa

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 17, 2022