Croatia defeat Morocco in third place match

Croatia played Morocco in the 3rd place match of the FIFA WORLD CUP, both sides were hoping to have a podium finish after loosing their Semi finals, the both sides have met in this World Cup,the first one ended goalless.

The match was played in Khalifa International Stadium, the referee incharge of the match was Qatari official Abdulrahman Al-Jassim.

Morocco’s Walid Regragui used a 4-3-3 formation Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri and Sofiane Boufal started in attack for Morocco, Achraf Hakimi started in defence for Morocco and Yassine Bounou started in-between the sticks for Morocco.

Zlatko Dalić side lined up with a 4-2-3-1, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovačić started in the midfield for Croatia, Ivan Perišić started in right back and Dinamo Zagreb man Dominik Livaković started in between the sticks.

The match got on to a flying start as Joško Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead in the seventh minute through a flying header, two minute later Achraf Dari equalises for Morocco. In the 24th minute, Modric had the chance to restore Croatia lead but was shut down by Bono who also denied Perišić of scrambling in it. Morocco almost took the lead in the 37th minute, Ziyech whips in another dangerous cross.

Boufal rises highest to glance it on at the near post, but nobody is waiting at the back for a tap it in. Oršić found the back of the net for Croatia three minutes before half time, Oršić shot the ball from the left side of the post the ball beats Bono outstretched hand hit the bar and entered the post.

Walid Regragui made a half time change for Morocco in the midfield Sabiri went off for Chair. Croatia kept knocking in the second half but couldn’t get a third, Croatia thought they had a penalty in the 74th minute after Amrabat kicked his back foot but the referee didn’t see anything wrong with the challenge. En-Nesyri had the chance to equalise for Morocco a minute later but Livakovic came out on top, Stanisic had the chance to finish off the game for Croatia in the 87th minute but his shot goes wide. Oršić the match winning was subbed off in the 95th minute and replaced by Jakić. En-Nesyri had the chance to send the game into extra time extra time with the last kick of the game but his header goes wide.

This meant Croatia ended with third place for the second time in their history. Croatia golden generation ended with a podium finish for the second time in a row.