Croatia Defeats Morocco in World Cup 2022
Croatia earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Morocco in their World Cup 2022 Group H qualifier in Zagreb on Tuesday night. Croatia took the lead in the 26th minute through a Luka Modric penalty, but Morocco equalized through Youssef En-Nesyri in the 77th minute. The match looked set for a draw, but Croatia grabbed the winner in the 89th minute through a late strike from Mario Mandzukic.
The game was an intense affair from the start, with both teams pushing forward in search of an opener. Croatia looked dangerous throughout the match, with their midfield trio of Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mateo Kovacic controlling the tempo and creating chances. Morocco, on the other hand, were dangerous on the counter-attack and could have taken the lead themselves on a few occasions.
Croatia were rewarded for their dominance when they were awarded a penalty in the 26th minute, which Modric slotted home to give them the lead. The game was still in the balance until the dying minutes, when Mandzukic struck a late winner that sent the home crowd into raptures.
Overall, it was a hard-fought victory for Croatia.
All highlights Below;
It’s the third-place playoff
Welcome to the penultimate day of the World Cup.
It’s the third-place playoff between Croatia and Morocco.
Not many remember the losing finalists of a World Cup, let alone who finished third. But try telling that to Moroccan fans who say it would mean the world to them if their team wins on Saturday.
Stay tuned for all the latest updates in the build-up to the match.
Croatia’s third place playoff in 1998
This isn’t Croatia’s first appearance in the third-place playoff. They played the Netherlands in the same match in 1998 where they won 2-1.
It was a staggering achievement for Croatia, who were competing in the tournament for the first time as an independent nation. Davor Šuker scored the winner in that game and clinched the Golden Boot in the process.
What this game means to Morocco fans
“It might not seem like much, but getting third place is actually important for us and it holds a lot of meaning because it shows that Morocco’s journey at the World Cup, as historical as it was, was not just luck but the result of the players’ effort and the supporters’ faith,” Imane, a Moroccan fan..
Insignificant World Cup playoff? Moroccans think otherwise.
Croatia and Morocco meet again in this World Cup
Drawn in the same group, the two played out a goalless draw in their opening game of the World Cup.
Incidentally, the same transpired at the 2018 World Cup where the third-place playoff was played between England and Belgium who had played earlier in the group stages.
Belgium did the double over England, winning the group stage game 1-0 and the playoff 2-0.
Moroccan ‘deserve’ a win: Fan
Huda, 45 years old, travelled from Canada to Qatar to cheer the Moroccan team on.
“It is amazing what the Moroccan team has achieved. For us, they are already champions. I have to come and cheer for them. The support they [the fans] have shown for Palestine is absolutely incredible. They have to win tonight. They deserve it. We all deserve it,” she said.
Three changes for Morocco
Morocco XI: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Achraf Dari, Jawad El Yamiq, Yahia Attiat-Allah, Sofyan Amrabat, Bilal El Khannouss, Hakim Ziyech, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Sofiane Boufal, Youssef En Nesyri.
Attiat-Allah, El Khannouss and Sabiri come into the starting team for Romain Saiss, Noussair Mazraoui and Azzedine Ounahi.
Five changes for Croatia
Croatia XI: Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic, Bosko Sutalo, Josko Gvardiol, Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Lovro Majer, Andrej Kramaric, Mislav Orsic, Marko Livaja.
Stanisic, Sutalo, Orsic, Livaja and Majer all come into the starting team for Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Borna Sosa, Marcelo Brozovic and Mario Pasalic.
How the teams will line up
Croatia go with an attacking team, with Perisic potentially playing left back or left wing-back.
Morocco, who used a back five in the last game to accommodate the injured Romain Saiss, revert to their usual four in front of Bounou.
A midfield general bows out?
This could be the last time we see 37-year-old Luka Modric wearing that famous chequered red and white jersey, with many expecting the midfielder to call it a day for the national team after this game.
However, were Croatia to lose, he might have enough fire in the belly to make it to the Euros in just 18 months.
Players warm up
Morocco players
Croatia Players
Who are you backing?
Expect this to be a tight affair
Morocco’s starting XI for the third-place match against Croatia ready for kickoff
Kickoff
Croatia get us under way playing left to right on television screens, wearing their usual white-and-red chequered kit. Morocco have their red-and-green kit on.
Let’s go.
Bounou makes an error
The Morocco keeper kicks the ball across his own goal line and almost into the net. However, it only results in a Croatia corner.
3 mins: Croatia 0-0 Morocco
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GOAL!
Gvardiol puts his team ahead with a header. Perisic heads the ball back to him after a well-worked free-kick routine.
7 mins: Croatia 1-0 Morocco
And to think
Some people thought this was going to be a boring game.
GOAL!
Dari levels it up with a header of his own. Modric flicks on a free kick from the right from Morocco, and the defender finishes from close range.
Madness.
9 mins: Croatia 1-1 Morocco
Morocco using the ball well
As they showed against France, Walid Regragui’s team aren’t afraid to knock it around a bit when the time calls for it. They’re making some intricate passes in the Croatian half, but yet to find that second decisive moment.
13 mins: Croatia 1-1 Morocco
Fighting for third best is a good chance for goals
Neither team wants to be playing this game, but now they’re here, they’ve got nothing to lose.
Third-place play-offs are often big on entertainment and big on goals.
“Although frequently overlooked, the bronze medal play-off is a game where history books are written,” David Webber, a researcher into the cultural and political economy of football at Solent University in the UK.
“Four of Just Fontaine’s record-breaking 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup were scored in France’s 6-3 win over West Germany in the play-off,” he said. “Without these goals, Fontaine would today be behind Gerd Muller in holding the record for the number of goals scored at an individual World Cup.”
Honours even
It’s one apiece on the scoreboard and these two teams can barely be separated by the stats either. Both sides have around 50 percent possession in this game, with Croatia edging the shots on target by two to one.
22 mins: Croatia 1-1 Morocco
Game slowed down a bit
After that frantic first 10 minutes inside the Khalifa International Stadium, this game has settled more into the expected pattern. Croatia are starting to dominate possession, with Morocco happy to sit deep and contain.
29 mins: Croatia 1-1 Morocco
Two stars
Stat attack
With half an hour down, here’s how we’re looking…
Great Ziyech ball
The Chelsea player takes a free kick from the left and whips an inviting cross into the box. Perisic, who’s so good in the air, deals with it, however.
En Nesyri heads wide from a corner moments later, but it flashes across the goal.
37 mins: Croatia 1-1 Morocco
Modric’s pull back cut out
El Yamiq cleared the ball but Modric had himself in a great position to pull the ball back. He gets around so well for a player in his late 30s.
40 mins: Croatia 1-1 Morocco
Ziyech shoots wide from distance
It’s a long way out, but Ziyech’s left foot is capable of some special things. Not on this occasion though, as he drags his effort wide of Livakovic’s goal.
42 mins: Croatia 1-1 Morocco
GOAL!
Orsic puts his side back in front with a peach of a shot. Morocco fail to clear their lines and the Croat punishes them with the sweetest of curling efforts.
42 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Half-time: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
A much more exciting 45 minutes of football than many had anticipated, as both sides have left the shackles firmly off. Orsic scored a beauty to put his team back in front, but Morocco have had their chances as well, as they continue to show how good they are at attacking, as well as defending.
Croatia takes a lead by two
The first half in numbers
Remember, you can access these stats, and more – updated live through the game – by clicking on the tab at the top of the blog.
Second half under way
Morocco kick us off for the second period, playing left to right in his half. Ilias Chair comes on for the Atlas Lions, with Sabiri making way.
46 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
Dari’s having a great game
How long is Dari going to stay at Brest?
Ziyech moves into middle of park
It should allow the Chelsea man to get on the ball more and attempt to dictate play.
Majer puts a good ball into the box at the other end, which hits a Morocco body and should be a corner but the referee didn’t see it.
52 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
Ounahi on for Morocco
He replaces 18-year-old El Khannouss.
56 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
Morocco changes
Badr Benoun and Anass Zaroury come on, with Dari and Boufal leaving the field of play.
65 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
Ounahi booked
He picks up the first yellow card of the day for his protestations at the referee awarding a foul.
70 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
Brilliant Livakovic save
En Nesyri shoots from close range but once again the Croatia keeper is in the right position. Hakimi now goes down looking for a penalty but it was outside the box.
77 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
Contentious call
The replays of that Gvardiol penalty claim would suggest that Amrabat got away with one there. Surprising that VAR didn’t ask Abdulrahman al-Jassim to go to the monitor and reconsider his decision.
80 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two -1 Morocco
Amallah gets booked
He’s not happy with the referee and it’s unclear whether the yellow card was for the stray arm or his arguments thereafter.
86 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
Six minutes added on
Plenty of time for Morocco to get themselves back in this game.
90+1 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
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Atlas Lions piling pressure on
Croatia are camped in their own half but heading everything that Morocco throw at them to safety.
90+4 mins: Croatia takes a lead by two
Full-time: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
We may not have seen any more goals in the second half, but it was still an intriguing watch with both teams getting feisty as the game progressed. Croatia showed their class at this level and had better chances to score even as Morocco chased a leveller.
Some of the Morocco players surrounded the referee at the end, but if anything, it’s Croatia that should have had a penalty awarded in that second half.
Not a great look from the Atlas Lions, but they’ve been a great team throughout this World Cup.
Morocco can’t have any complaints
They were looking for free kicks for every slight as that game went on, but they were beaten by the better team today. Croatia created a good few chances on the break at 2-1, and deservedly finish in third place at this World Cup.
Modric ran the show as usual
Croatia pick up their medals ?
They’ve cemented their reputation as a great national side after following up their second place finish in 2018 with a bronze medal here.
Modric and co look as delighted as you’d expect with this result after a hard-fought 90 minutes.
A rock for Croatia throughout the tournament – goal scorer and #Budweiser Player of the Match today. ?
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