FIFAWC 2022: Croatia edge Morocco to claim bronze medal

2018 runners-up Croatia picked up the bronze medal at the 2022 FIFA Earth Cup right after a tricky-fought 2-1 get more than Morocco in the third-put playoff. The Europeans have now claimed back-to-again podium finishes in the FIFA Globe Cup for the to start with time in their history.

Immediately after dropping to Argentina and France in the semifinals, Croatia and Morocco locked horns in the 3rd-location playoff for a second time in Qatar. The sides experienced confronted off in the team stage and have been inseparable at the time, participating in out a goalless attract.

With captain Roman Saiss, Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd dominated out by damage, the depleted Atlas Lions turned out in opposition to Croatia with the bronze medal on the line.

The match acquired off to an explosive commence, with both equally sides acquiring the web inside of the opening ten minutes.

Croatia took the direct right after only 7 minutes via a Josko Gvardiol header. A brilliantly-labored free-kick ended up in the box and the 20-12 months-old RB Leipzig star planted a diving header into the back again of the internet.

Morocco replied immediately through centre-back Achraf Dari, who began in position of the stricken Saiss. The defender headed the ball previous Dominik Livakovic a moment soon after the match was restarted.

Following the frantic start out to the game, the match settled down as both sides looked to outfox each and every other.

Croatia shipped the killer blow just as the 50 % was about to come to an stop. Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic curled a very first-time effort from the edge of the box previous Bono and into the back of the net through the upright in the 45th minute.

The second half noticed no objectives scored by possibly aspect as the held onto what they had. Croatia claimed the bronze medal, with captain Luka Modric taking part in his closing Earth Cup match at 37 decades outdated. They claimed a third podium end in the Planet Cup due to the fact their debut in 1998.