Croatia's head coach Zlatko Dalic, 3rd left, and players pose for photos at the end of the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. Croatia won 2-1. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)Croatia vs Morocco (CRO vs MAR) Highlights: Croatia stopped Morocco from becoming the first African medallists at the World Cup and scripting history, defeating the Atlas Lions 2-1 in the third-place playoff at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Defender Josko Gvardiol – one of the players of the tournament – opened the scoring with an early header off a well-worked set piece. Morocco only needed 112 seconds to equalise off a free kick of their own through Achraf Dari. A brilliant curling effort from Orsic gave Croatia the lead at half time, which they held on to resilliently in the second.
Lineups: Croatia: Livakovic; Sutalo, Gvardiol, Stanisic, Perisic; Kovacic, Modric, Majer; Orsic, Livaja, Kramaric. Morocco: Bonou; Hakimi, Dari, El Yamiq, Attiyat-Allah; Amrabat, Sabiri, El Khannouss; Ziyech, Boufal, En-Nesyri.
Croatia's Luka Modric waves to the fans after the match as Croatia are eliminated from the World Cup. (Reuters)
Croatia and Morocco players will have to gather themselves up following the semifinal defeats to Argentina and France respectively for a 3rd place play off
The individual performances from Modric, Orsic, and in particular Gvardiol - who is undoubtedly the loudest shout for defender of the tournament - as well as the collective game management, earned Croatia the win.
For Morocco, it was one hurdle too many, physically struggling towards the end and seeing four centre backs sidelined by injury. The experience of Croatia to win the key moments and battles, and manage the game well got them over the line.
Morocco's run at this tournament in history. With or without a medal.
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This performance has been a testament to his understated brilliance.
With Brozovic out, Modric had been called upon to do much of the work off the ball, and play in a much deeper role than usual. He has excelled at it, constantly taking up positions in front of the defence to make interceptions, break up play, and keep Croatia ticking with his long and short passing.
There were not many of the trademark flourishes, but they were not needed as much as the workman role, and he fulfilled it brilliantly.If this was his last dance, a performance worthy of it.
All over at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Croatia pick up the bronze medal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup!
Morocco's storied, historic run comes to an end.
CRO 2-1 MAR
A huge chance. A great cross is met by his header, which goes over the goal.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Livakovic saves a cross from the left after a sustained period of Moroccan pressure.
Don't think there is much left in the tank now.
CRO 2-1 MAR
One final flourish needed from Morocco now.
CRO 2-1 MAR
So very nearly finished it off.
Brilliant run from Kovacic, and wonderful skill to to knock the ball past Amrabat, but shoots wide on his weaker left foot from 12 yards.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Very clever play, and not for the first time this tournament.
The way they hold possession, slow down the tempo of the game every time they are under sustained pressure, and frustrate the opposition is very effective.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Hard one to call for the referee from several yards away. But for VAR to fail to see Amrabat catching Gvardiol in the box and tripping him is hard to justify. Seemed like a certain penalty.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Gvardiol has been immense today.
He breaks up play at the back, plays in Vlasic in a promising position, and makes a brilliant late run into the box drawing a challenge. He stayed down and called for a penalty, as Morocco broke away with Hakimi in position to score. Modric at the back to mop up.
Moments later, Morocco broke. Gvardiol couldn't clear, and En-Nesyri couldn't take advantage, getting a save from Livakovic. Hakimi receives the ball at the edge of the box and goes down to a Petkovic challenge, and calls for a penalty, but is denied.
Frantic action.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Croatia just absorbing pressure at the moment, and not breaking with numbers.
Vlasic finds himself in space, but no support, and strikes on from long range.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Both El Yamiq and goalscorer Dari are off, with injury, alongside first-choice pairing Aguerd and Saiss on the sidelines.
Make shift back four has Amrabat withdrawing into the back four.
Do they have enough to come back into this?
CRO 2-1 MAR
Without Marcelo Brozovic at the heart of Croatia's midfield, the team does not look so assured in possession anymore.
Regragui has realised that and moved Ziyech into a central, deeper position to take the midfielders on. The introduction of Ounahi, a team of the tournament contender, will overload the area.
Could be a clever bit of in-game management from the Moroccan coach.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Terrible moment for the striker, after a good, hardworking tournament, comes to a sad end for him.
Tears in his eyes as he is consoled by Dalic. Croatia put on Vlasic as his replacement.
CRO 2-1 MAR
The Croatian striker has been struggling for a while, the ball goes out of play for him to get treatment. Not looking good.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Kovacic's excellent incisive pass finds Kramaric in a promising area in the inside right channel, but he hesitates to play it into the box and the chance goes begging.
Azzedine Ounahi, one of the finds of this World Cup and arguably Morocco's best player, comes off the bench now.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Great play between Kovacic and Kramaric to penetrate Morocco's midfield, the ball broke to Majer in space, whose cross was cleared unconvincingly for a corner.
CRO 2-1 MAR
Morocco's creative players a dropping deep to create, but the risky passing can lose possession too.
This time it was a charge from Stanisovic from the right, finding Perisic with a diagonal, who plays in Majer, whose cross is fizzed accross the box.
Croatia in a counterattacking role now.
CRO 2-1 MAR
He found Attiyat-Allah with a piercing ball down the left, who could not get it under control.
The skipper has been the catalyst to much of Morocco's attacking threat, and by putting on Chair for Sabiri at half time, Regragui has given him a free-roaming role in the middle. Like their opponents, they are playing with four rotating forwards.
CRO 2-1 MAR
The ball came into his stride a few yards outside the box, controlled a powerful shot that was heading to Bounou's near post before picking up a deflection and out for a corner.
This would have been some brace.
CRO 2-1 MAR
With the whole of Africa, the Arab world, and a raucous crowd at the Khalifa International Stadium behind them, Morocco have 45 minutes to turn this around and make history.
CRO 2-1 MAR
It would have been justifiable had the two teams not been up for this game. They have to be emotionally and physically drained after a long tournament and disappointing semifinal defeat.
Not the case for this match though, it has been played at a terrific tempo, with both teams looking to attack from the get-go. Croatia's early goal may have killed this game, but Morocco's spirit, not only in getting an instant equaliser, but by consistently threatening on the break, has kept this game alive.
It was a moment of pure ingenuity that gives Croatia the crucial half-time lead, but Morocco are very much still in this one.
CRO 2-1 MAR
It had been tough spell for Croatia recently, but they have looked good going forward throughout this half, and turned it on when required.
After a brief period of pressure, the ball broke to Orsic on the left, who shaped an incredibly well-hit curler right into the far corner. As if it needed an aesthetic assist, it went in off the post.
CRO 2-1 MAR
A simply marvellous goal from Mislav Orsic!
CRO 2-1 MAR
Receives the ball in midfield and shimmies across from Modric and Kovacic before striking a long ranger that had Livakovic momentarily worried.
The kind of incisive play that Ziyech is known for, but has only shown in flashes at club level. The Moroccan skipper is enjoying responsibility.
CRO 1-1 MAR
After Croatia took control of much of the first half, Morocco are enjoying themselves on the pitch now, latching onto loose passes and threatening from wide areas through Ziyech, Hakimi, Boufal, and Attiyat-Allah. Each of those four seem key to anything the Atlas Lions create today.
Ziyech's corner is nearly met by En-Nesyri's run at the near post. Inches away from directing his header towards goal.
CRO 1-1 MAR
Found the ball on the right wing and took on three opposition players, driving into the area and playing a give-and-go with El Khannouss before shooting above the goal.
The Moroccans were adamant it was a corner, surrounding and hounding the referee. Few of them will have to be careful now.
CRO 1-1 MAR
That threat on the tranisition persists.
Brilliant bit of interplay between Hakimi and Ziyech down the right, the former taking the ball to the byline and just overhitting his cut back cross, missing En-Nesyri in the box.
CRO 1-1 MAR
Misrepresentation of the Croatian lineup from FIFA (not the first time the governing body has misled fans at this tournament...)
Looks like a 4-2-3-1, with Modric and Kovacic sitting in holding midfield. Has given them four attacking options, as Perisic plays at left back with defensive duties, and Majer plays in between the lines in the No. 10 role.
They've looked good going forward so far.
CRO 1-1 MAR
Vintage Modric.
A Perisic delivery is not convincingly cleared by Attiyat-Allah playing in Luka Modric at the edge of the box. He drops his shoulder and beats his man, chopping onto his left foot and striking a grounded shot, which was awkwardly saved by Bounou and cleared by the Atlas Lions.
CRO 1-1 MAR
Boufal got caught on the ball in his own half, and as the ball broke to Kramaric, he had a lot of time but played in an underhit pass into Orsic.
Moments later, the ball arrives in the box and the striker heads it straight at Bonou.
Could have done better with both chances.
CRO 1-1 MAR
The Atlas Lions are showing their trademark resilience.
Croatia are the team with the initiative, creating through incisive passing in wide areas. But Morocco are defending resolutely, and look a threat every time they break on the transition.
CRO 1-1 MAR
He was one of the breakout stars of this World Cup before getting turned by Messi for that assist in the semifinal.
It has been a brilliant comeback today, not just for the goal, but in the opening 15, he has already been a commanding presence, drilling long passes and intercepting passes.
The 20-year-old is going places.
CRO 1-1 MAR
Morocco went behind for only the second time this tournament, and they were behind for 112 seconds.
It was a positive response to Croatia's well-worked goal that won them the free kick in the first place. They just refuse to bow down.
Both teams have started in elecrtifying fashion.
CRO 1-1 MAR
Instant response!
Ziyech's free kick is cleared unconvincingly by Majer, Achraf Dari is in acres of space, and knocks the header in.
CRO 1-1 MAR
It's Josko Gvardiol!
A simply delightful set piece move. Majer's free kick found Perisic into space, whose header into the box is met by Gvardiol, who dives into a header and powers it into the net.
CRO 1-0 MAR
Nearly an extraordinary own goal from Yassine Bounou, who was put under pressure while playing out from the back, and his mishit pass nearly went into his own net.
It came after an early thrust from Croatia, with Perisic's delivery, and the subsequent corner, worrying the Moroccan defence.
CRO 0-0 MAR
And we're off.
This may be a game neither team wants to play, but there is still a lot to play for today.
Morocco can become the first African medallists at a World Cup, Croatia can sum up a generation of overachievement by backing up their silver medal with a bronze.
A big 90 minutes ahead.
CRO 0-0 MAR
Summed up neatly here.
At the start of the tournament, or even when they played out a goalless draw in the group stage, Croatia vs Morocco to decide third place could hardly have been predicted by anyone.
The two teams find themselves in this position after solid and resilient performances, clever in-game management, and well-coached system developed according to their strengths.
Time to reap the rewards now. Kick off coming shortly
The Atlas Lions have undoubtedly been the story of the tournament. Their run to the semifinal was made all the more special by the fact that this is the very first Arab World Cup, and they have felt like the home side, as they will today, for each of those matches.
They get another slice at history today, after becoming the first African side to reach the semifinal, they can become the first African side to win a medal. A big 90 minutes.
It will be an emotional occassion for many reasons, and for the Croatian skipper in particular, but on the pitch, the battle between Luka Modric and Sofiyan Amrabat seems to be the most crucial.
Amrabat's combative nature can disrupt Croatia's midfield, from where they usually aim to exercise control and dictate the tempo of the game. It was the highlight battle on the pitch when the two teams met last month, time for Round 2.
According to the tactical lineup provided by FIFA ahead of the game, Croatia seem to be playing a back five, with Ivan Perisic and Mislav Orsic at wing back, and a front-two of Andrej Kramaric and Marko Livaja.
Interesting to see them change shape for the first time this tournament.
The 2018 Golden Ball winner may be playing his last game on this stage.
Croatia and Morocco take each other on for the second time in this World Cup, after meeting in Group F earlier and playing out a goalless draw in their campaign opener.
Another tight game, and possibly extra time and/or penalties, very much on the cards here.
Illustrous midfielder Azzedine Ounahi has been one of the finds of the World Cup, but after looking physically weakened against France in the semifinal, he has been left out of the side. Defenders Romain Saiss, Nasef Aguerd, and Noussair Mazraoui are all out due to injury, after struggling to come back on Wednesday.
Morocco: Bonou; Hakimi, Dari, El Yamiq, Attiyat-Allah; Amrabat, Sabiri, El Khannouss; Ziyech, Boufal, En-Nesyri.
There were doubts over how big a role the Croatian skipper, an all-time great, would play after the disappointing semifinal. He starts today's fixture in a heavily-changed XI. Looks like a changed formation from the usual 4-3-3, or Perisic may have been asked to slot in at left back.
Croatia: Livakovic; Sutalo, Gvardiol, Stanisic, Perisic; Kovacic, Modric, Majer; Orsic, Livaja, Kramaric.
Their incredibly technically sound midifield trio of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, and Mateo Kovacic that allows them to keep possession and keep oppositions out of dangerous territory. Despite not having the highest individual quality going forward, their stubbornness has allowed them to grind excellent results over the past two World Cups. The 2018 silver medallists will be eyeing the bronze today.
Welcome to The Indian Express' live coverage of the third-place playoff between Croatia and Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It may be the game no team wants to play - after losing the all-crucial semifinal - but a lot is on the line, particularly for Morocco, who are vying to be the first African team to clinch the bronze.
Stay tuned for all the buildup, real-time analysis, and storylines on the penultimate day of the World Cup.