SUPERB STRIKE FROM CROATIA SEES OFF MOROCCO TO TAKE THIRD PLACE

Croatia have won earned third place at the World Cup after they beat Morocco with a typically professional display.

Scorers: Gvardiol 7′, Oršić 42′; Dari 9′

Croatia are officially the third-best team of the 2022 World Cup after an excellent second-half strike from Mislav Oršić saw off Morocco.

The game sprang into life straight away as Morocco goalkeeper Bono almost conceded an own goal in the opening exchanges when he attempted to clear a chance and rolled the ball down his own goal line.

It wasn’t long until Croatia did have the lead though, when a smart flick-on by Ivan Perišić from a well-worked set-piece was met with a stunning header from Joško Gvardiol.

That advantage was almost immediately cancelled out when another free-kick just two minutes later saw Morocco equalise, a weird bounce from Luka Modrić’s attempted clearance headed in by Achraf Dari.

Morocco had some decent chances to take the lead during the first half, but it was Croatia that retook the advantage after a quick counter-press thanks to Mislav Oršić, who executed a brilliant finish off the post and into the net from the corner of the box.

Just after half-time Oršić went close again when his curling effort was deflected into the side netting but nothing came of the resulting corner.

As Croatia appealed for a penalty when Gvardiol was upended by makeshift defender Sofiyan Amrabat, Morocco went down the other end and forced a save from Dominik Livaković.

That’s when Croatia shut up shop, their major tournament experience and organised play enough to keep Morocco at bay as they successfully protected their 2-1 win to earn the bronze prize at the tournament.