In the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday, Croatia defeated Morocco 2-1, allowing the European team to depart Qatar on a high note after failing to reach the final for a second time in a row.
Two early goals inside the first nine minutes set the tone for a tense match, with Achraf Dari canceling out Josko Gvardiol’s opening goal for Croatia. Mislav Orsic’s late first-half goal was sufficient to end the match.
After both teams experienced heartbreak in the semifinals, a bronze medal may have been little more than consolation, but Croatia and Morocco were anxious to atone for their losses to Argentina and France, respectively.
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Every time the Croatian players possessed the ball, the Moroccan fans, who have flocked to Qatar in great numbers to support their team, booed them, their whistles resonating throughout the jam-packed Khalifa International Stadium.
However, Croatia did not let that stop them from getting off to a strong start and taking the lead in the seventh minute thanks to a deftly executed set-piece.
Ivan Perisic skillfully headed the ball into the mix after it floated into the box, where it was met by the masked Gvardiol, who boldly dove in for the header to temporarily quiet the Moroccan contingent.
Two minutes later, Morocco struck back at the other end with their own set piece. Lovro Majer’s header on a cross floated into the area, where an unmarked Dari headed it past goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Morocco found chinks in the Croatian defense after scoring the equalizer, and their mobility and passing helped them create multiple opportunities. However, the African team lacked the desire to score goals in the final third.
After intercepting a pass in the final third, Croatia duly punished Morocco in the 42nd minute. Orsic’s looping shot from a tight angle flew past Yassine Bounou’s outstretched arm and in off the post.
Due to fatigue from a lengthy tournament and both teams playing their seventh game in Qatar, the second half was not as frantic or spirited as the first.
Due to injuries to their center backs, Croatia felt doubly wronged when Gvardiol appeared to have been tripped in the box by Sofyan Amrabat, who was now manning the defense. However, the referee did not give Croatia a penalty.
Youssef En-Nesyri came near when he headed over in stoppage time, but Croatia hung on for victory and the bronze, emulating the feat of their heroes from 1998, who also took third. Morocco made every effort to get an equalizer.
