Croatia have secured third place on the World Cup in Qatar as they beat an injury-hit Morocco 2-1 on Saturday, to complete on the rostrum for a 3rd time, following a 3rd place in 1998 and second in 2018.
Despite defeat, Morocco additionally depart with heads aloft after turning into the primary African facet to succeed in a World Cup semi-final.
Mislav Orsic’s late first-half strike was sufficient to settle the competition after two early objectives inside the primary 9 minutes set the tone for a pulsating encounter, Achraf Dari cancelling out Josko Gvardiol’s opener for Croatia.
A bronze medal might have served as nothing greater than comfort after either side endured disappointment within the semi-finals, however Croatia and Morocco seemed desperate to make amends after shedding to Argentina and France respectively.
For Croatia, it was well-deserved after dominating the early phases of the sport and being scientific with alternatives whereas Morocco had been left to rue what might need been after lacking a number of probabilities.
“This is bronze with a golden glow. We won a tough game,” mentioned Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic, who additionally led the nation of 4 million individuals to runners-up in Russia 4 years in the past.
“This is a medal for the Croatian people… It’s really great that we won two medals in two tournaments, big congratulations to my players.”
Nerves
There had been indicators of nerves from Morocco early on with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou practically scything a clearance into his personal purpose in simply the third minute.
Moroccan followers have turned up in large numbers to help their crew in Qatar and Saturday was no completely different as they jeered the Croatian gamers every time they’d possession, their whistles echoing contained in the packed Khalifa International Stadium.
That didn’t deter Croatia, nonetheless, who began the sport on the entrance foot and took the lead within the seventh minute by means of a cleverly labored set-piece.
A cross floated into the field discovered Ivan Perisic who expertly headed the ball into the combo the place the masked Gvardiol bravely dived in for the header to silence the Moroccan contingent, albeit briefly.
Two minutes later, Morocco responded on the different finish with a set piece of their very own when a cross got here off Lovro Majer’s head and looped into the field the place an unmarked Dari beat the keeper with a header.
Emboldened by the equaliser, Morocco started to search out chinks within the Croatian defence, with their motion and slick passing serving to to create a number of probabilities.
But the African facet lacked the killer intuition in entrance of purpose, the ultimate cross or contact at all times discovered wanting.
Croatia duly punished them within the forty second minute when an interception within the last third discovered Orsic, whose curling shot arced superbly from a good angle previous the outstretched arm of Yassine Bounou earlier than moving into off the publish.
The second half didn’t begin as quick or feisty as the primary as exhaustion after an extended event lastly appeared to have caught up with each groups, taking part in their seventh sport in Qatar.
Croatia’s Andrej Kramaric even left the pitch in tears with what seemed like a thigh damage whereas purpose scorer Dari hobbled off having opted to proceed taking part in after the restart regardless of struggling on the finish of the primary half.
By the 67th minute, Morocco had made all 5 of their substitutions. With Romain Saiss and Nayef Aguerd benched, Jawad El Yamiq turned their fourth heart again to bid the event goodbye when he got here off.
“Physically it was difficult, our players got tired, it was intense,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui mentioned.
Penalty denied
Croatia additionally felt laborious performed by when Gvardiol seemed to have been tripped within the field by Sofyan Amrabat – now taking part in in protection with their heart backs injured – however the referee refused to award a penalty.
The Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim additionally misplaced management of proceedings as each Croatia and Morocco had been left annoyed by his choices to not award fouls, with gamers from either side squaring up at one level.
Mateo Kovacic may have put the sport to mattress for Croatia within the 87th minute when by means of on purpose however shot vast whereas Youssef En-Nesyri got here shut when he headed over in stoppage time.
But regardless of Morocco’s finest efforts to search out an equaliser, Croatia held on for victory and the bronze, matching the feat of their heroes from 1998 who additionally completed third.
Morocco broke new floor for Africa by reaching the ultimate 4. As Regragui promised, they nonetheless go residence to a hero’s welcome.
“We wanted to please our fans. We’re still happy, we’re among the four best teams in the world,” Regragui mentioned.
“We provided everyone with a good show, we never gave up. Congratulations to Croatia, they deserve their third place.”
