FIFAWC 2022: Croatia edge Morocco to say bronze medal

2018 runners-up Croatia picked up the bronze medal on the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Morocco within the third-place playoff. The Europeans have now claimed back-to-back podium finishes within the FIFA World Cup for the primary time of their historical past.

After shedding to Argentina and France within the semifinals, Croatia and Morocco locked horns within the third-place playoff for a second time in Qatar. The edges had confronted off within the group stage and have been inseparable on the time, enjoying out a goalless draw.

With captain Roman Saiss, Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd dominated out by means of damage, the depleted Atlas Lions turned out towards Croatia with the bronze medal on the road.

The sport received off to an explosive begin, with each side discovering the online contained in the opening ten minutes.

Croatia took the lead after solely seven minutes by means of a Josko Gvardiol header. A brilliantly-worked free-kick ended up within the field and the 20-year-old RB Leipzig star planted a diving header into the again of the online.

Morocco replied instantly by means of centre-back Achraf Dari, who began instead of the stricken Saiss. The defender headed the ball previous Dominik Livakovic a minute after the sport was restarted.

After the frantic begin to the sport, the match settled down as each side seemed to outfox one another.

Croatia delivered the killer blow simply because the half was about to return to an finish. Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic curled a first-time effort from the sting of the field previous Bono and into the again of the online by way of the upright within the forty fifth minute.

The second half noticed no objectives scored by both facet because the held onto what that they had. Croatia claimed the bronze medal, with captain Luka Modric enjoying his remaining World Cup match at 37 years previous. They claimed a 3rd podium end within the World Cup since their debut in 1998.