Croatia take bronze from Qatar

Croatia take bronze from Qatar

Zlatko Dalic's team get third place against Morocco thanks to goals from Gvardiol and Orsic

MADRID, 17 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Croatian team complied and achieved third place in the Qatar 2022 World Cup this Saturday after beating Morocco (2-1), thanks to goals from Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic, after a solid and convincing match by Zlatko Dalic's team , against a combative Moroccan team, which kept hope with the goal from Achraf Dari.

The checkered team dealt the first blow with the Leipzig center-back, but another defender responded within a minute, in this case Dari for the Africans. After an exchange of chances and as the first half came to an end, Orsic burst in from the band to restore the lead to the Croats, a result that was maintained until the end to give the Balkans the bronze medal.

The team led by Zlatko Dalic said goodbye to its status as runner-up in the world, after losing the final (4-2) against France in Russia 2018, and equaled what was achieved in France 1998, after winning the match for third and fourth place to the Netherlands (1-2). Also with the final whistle, except for a rarity, Luka Modric's career in the history of the World Cups ended, after four participations (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022) and a historic legacy.

The Moroccans, for their part, say goodbye to the World Cup with a historic fourth position, becoming the best classification of an African team in the history of the World Cup. After a more than meritorious tournament, after beating Spain and Portugal, and losing to France in the semifinals, 'Los Leones del Atlas' will return to their country with their heads held high.

Despite being the so-called 'consolation final', both teams took to the field wanting to return to their respective countries with some prize. Thus, from the initial whistle, the occasions followed one another in one field and the other, through an exchange of blows, as if it were a boxing match. A frantic start to the game that after seven minutes saw the Croats take the lead on the scoreboard.

Gvardiol took advantage of a cross at the short post to launch himself with everything and go up first to the light. However, Morocco did not lose face in the match and while the Croatian players were still celebrating the goal, Dari again equalized after the ninth minute. The defender broke into the small area to finish off a lateral free kick taken by Ziyech.

Round trip game that did not slow down its frenetic pace, at least during the first 45 minutes. Modric again threatened Bono's goal, but his left-footed shot from the edge was met with a good clearance from the Moroccan goalkeeper. And shortly after, En-Nesyri failed to finish off a measured cross from Achraf, after being left alone in the small area.

On the verge of expiring regulation time, the Croats struck again. Orsic threatened to put a cross into the area, but finally the ball took a curve that was unreachable for Bono, who could only admire the work of art of the Dinamo Zagreb player under the goalposts. In the second half, both teams slowed down and the game slowed down, also due to the fatigue of both teams.

With the peace of mind of seeing themselves ahead on the scoreboard, the Croats limited themselves to controlling the game, stifling the Moroccan attacks thanks to their defensive solidity. Even so, En-Nesyri had the equalizer in his boots, first after a shot saved by the Croatian goalkeeper, who shrunk very well as he left, and at the last minute sending a header wide that put an end to African hopes.

--RESULT: CROATIA, 2 - MOROCCO, 1. (2-1, at halftime).

CROACIA: Livakovic; Sutalo, Stanisic, Gvardiol; Orsic (Jakic, min.95), Modric, Kovacic, Majer (Pasalic, min.66), Perisic; Kramaric (Vlasic, min.61) y Livaja (Petkovic, min.66).

MARRUECOS: Bono; Hakimi, Dari (Benoun, min.64), El Yamiq (Amallah, min.67), Attiat-Allah; Sabiri (Chair, min. 46), Amrabat, El Khannous (Ounahi, min. 56); Ziyech, En-Nesyri and Boufal (Zaroury, min. 64).

1-0, min.7: Guardiol.

1-1, min. 9: From.

2-1, min.42: Orsic.

--REFEREE: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (CAT). He admonished Ounahi (min.69) and Amallah (min.84) by Morocco.

--ESTADIO: Khalifa International Stadium.