World Cup score: Croatia down Morocco to finish third behind spectacular Mislav Orsic goal

Croatia follow up 2018's runner-up performance with third place finish

For the third time in the last seven World Cups, Croatia have finished on the podium. It may be a step down for the beaten finalists of 2018 but in what will surely be his last game on the biggest stage, Luka Modric gets to bow out a winner.

He was in supreme form to the last as the fairytale run of Morocco was undone in the first half, goals from Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic firing Croatia to another third place finish that means they, along with the great side of 1998, will have bronze medals in their collection.

These games can go one of two ways, either heavy-legged and devastated internationals will trudge through an occasion when they'd rather be anywhere else (all the more understandable in the case of a mid-season World Cup) or the two teams can take it upon themselves to depart the global stage with a flourish. It was swiftly apparent that these two would deliver the latter, an impudently designed free kick seeing Ivan Perisic flick the initial delivery across goal for a diving Josko Gvardiol to flick in.

Their lead lasted less than two minutes. Morocco's equaliser was far less elegant, no less effective. Hakim Ziyech's deliver did not clear the second man but a Croatian head merely looped the ball up in the air, Achraf Dari judging its flight and flicking it in. Both sides had their chances for a second before the half was out, Achraf Hakimi crossing just behind Youssef En-Nesyri as he waited to flick into an empty net, but it was Croatia who took it.

Orsic's goal was among the best scored in this tournament. Finding space of the far left of the penalty area he opened his body and hit something approximating a drilled lob at Yassine Bounou's far post, the Moroccan goalkeeper stranded as the ball bounced back into his net off the far post.

Moroccan legs might have tired in a second half where scarcely 10 minutes went by without them suffering an injury but they still chased the tie, En-Nesyri drawing an excellent save from Dominik Livakovic moments after Sofyan Amrabat had bafflingly got away with a foul on Gvardiol in his own area. Though En-Nesyri went close with a last gasp header ultimately Croatia's ability to dictate possession for long stretches meant they were able to grind away at their opponent's energy reserves, easing to the finish line of another outstanding World Cup campaign.

Tired legs and minds in Moroccan colors

In the end, the sheer effort of getting as far as they did put paid to Morocco's hopes of achieving the unimaginable. To the last they showed technical quality, but they simply did not have the fitness to stay the course. Perhaps this was rank misfortune, perhaps the price that any team must pay for spending so long without the ball against Portugal and Spain. Walid Regragui's side ended this tournament the walking wounded, four center backs having fallen in the last week.

Goal-scorer Dari was clearly struggling before the first half was out. There was a quarter of the game left when Tariq El Yamiq left. The starting center backs, Romain Saiss and Nayef Aguerd, had both been lost within 20 minutes of the defeat to France. No wonder in such circumstances that the belligerent organization of the round of 16 and quarterfinal wins was nowhere to be seen, the Moroccan defense at sea in the first half with nervy clearances and two defenders going to clear a single ball.

Further forward, the same tiredness manifested itself in heavy passes and moves that just died with the last pass. Hakim Ziyech was thoroughly knackered, perhaps moved to a central role because he did not have the legs to beat his man out wide. They probed and tested until the last but the strength was not in them to exert continuous pressure on Croatia.

Croatia bow out on a high

Those who have watched any of this tournament over the past month might feel they have been hammered over their head with Croatian population statistics – did you know that about as many people live in Split, the second largest city, as Hayward, the sixth largest city in the Bay Area? – but there is a reason. There are countries with 10 times the people, with economic might, a rich history in the game and talented players who have not matched Croatia's achievements over the six World Cups in which they have competed.

Even aside from the magnificent Modric, this whole campaign had something of the feel of a coda after their brilliance in 2018. They were not quite good enough to beat the best in 120 minutes, but they could drive teams to frustration, knowing it is rarely a bad idea to trust players with their ball-striking excellence and composure under pressure to win a penalty shootout. 

We may not see the like again from Croatia. This was surely Modric's last dance and it is hard to see his running mate Ivan Perisic returning to the world stage at 37. Even if the likes of Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic and Orsic make it to north America in 2026, they will likely be on the downslope of their career. There is of course young talent on the rise, most notably Gvardiol but also Luka Sucic, but there are only so many diamonds to be found in a nation of a few million. This might be it for Croatia at the very highest level. But then again, we did say that four years ago, and after their third-place finish in 1998 as well.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 11:56 am ET · James Benge]

Full time - Croatia finish third

For the third time in the last seven World Cups, Croatia are on the podium!

[Dec 17, 2022 at 11:46 am ET · James Benge]

Five minutes to go

Croatia seem to be seeing this one out in relative comfort, probing around that Moroccan third as this game winds down. It has been a good one, certainly better than these third place playoffs can be, and Croatia will feel they are deserved winners if they do indeed hold on. Kovacic really should make it three after ebing played through by Orisc and beating his man but he rolls a left footed shot past the far post.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 11:36 am ET · James Benge]

Big save from Livakovic

In the last few moments this game has burst into life. In one moment Gvardiol wins the ball in midfield and flies upfield, giving and going before driving into the box, where he collides into Amrabat. He thinks there's a foul due here with the Moroccan No.4 grabbing his opponent's arm. It is a clear penalty but never gets called up... even when there is a lengthy stoppage soon after En-Nesyri's shot is saved by Livakovic. Hakimi had gone down seconds later and wanted a penalty, it was outside the the box though. But how on earth Gvardiol has not won his side a penalty I do not know.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 11:31 am ET · James Benge]

Tired minds and legs

Morocco are really struggling. Both their center backs have exited the contest and they are effectively without players to put in that position having lost Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss around the semifinal. Their fans are making all sorts of noise but on the field the Atlas Lions are limping to the finish line, albeit without coming under too much pressure from Croatia.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 11:18 am ET · James Benge]

Ounahi enters the fray

Morocco have been a little bit shellshocked in the second half, making more of those clumsy errors we saw in the first period. Can the impressive Azzeine Ounahi turn the tide? We're about to find out. Certainly he would offer a little something to aid Ziyech, who has moved into a more central role since Chair's introduction at the interval. So far that has not quite brought the best out of him but give him space for a shot and you never know.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 11:06 am ET · James Benge]

We're underway again

There's a change for Morocco but not in the defense. Sabiri makes way and in his place comes the impressive Ilias Chair, who QPR fans will be willing to get through this game unscathed. The second half begins as the first ends with Orsic letting fly. It smacks against the side netting after deflecting off a Moroccan defender.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:58 am ET · James Benge]

Here's that stunner from Orsic

I love that sound of it coming back off the post!

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:50 am ET · James Benge]

Half time - Croatia lead through two wonderful goals

Unfortunately for Morocco this half ends with the tale of their week so far as Dari, the goalscorer early in the second half, gets treatment as the whistle is blown. The last thing they'll need is to make another defensive change, particularly as their system has come a little unstuck so far.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:45 am ET · James Benge]

GOAL - A stunner from Orsic

We might need a recount on our goals of the tournament! What a finish that is from Orsic, who receives the ball when it breaks to him right on the left corner of the box. He tries a sort of drilled lob that leaves Bono with no chance, dinking back off the post and into the net. A lovely strike that!

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:36 am ET · James Benge]

Morocco getting back into this

Better from the north Africans, who are starting to get joy down the flanks. First Hakimi thumps a cross behind En-Nesyri, who could otherwise have flicked the ball into an open net, whilst Boufal gets into the box and rages when the officials (rightly) rule that his attempted shot came off him after Gvardiol. Morocco have improved, advancing their line up somewhat and picking off passes that Croatia are trying to slide into midfield. Another free kick that Ziyech is standing over gives them a chance to aim at some of their tallest players but this time Perisic rises to flick it away.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:27 am ET · James Benge]

Error strewn Morocco

It is like the damn has burst for Morocco, all the errors they had held at bay in getting this far unleashed in a torrent. A sloppy clearance allows Majer to cross from the left. It's quite poorly cleared in the penalty area straight to Modric, whose low shot goes through a few legs on its way to Bono, who spills the shot before slapping the rebound to safety.

When the ball eventually goes to safety the goalkeeper urges his players to calm down but he still hasn't found what he's looking for, Morocco's defense remains extremely skittish.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:19 am ET · James Benge]

What a start!

This game really has delivered early on and since the equaliser we've seen Croatia up the momentum in a way they often haven't in this tournament. Both teams are determined to go out enjoying themselves with Morocco pressing a little more keenly than they did against Spain and Portugal.

Here are those goals that have set us up so brilliantly.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:12 am ET · James Benge]

GOAL - That lead didn't last long

Another set piece, another goal. There isn't quite as much impudence to this one as Croatia's but Dari is on hand to meet a looping ball with a strong header. We're back where we started!

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:09 am ET · James Benge]

GOAL - A brilliantly worked Croatia set piece

Croatia pick up a foul about 30 yards out, Majer clipping the ball straight down the line to Perisic, who flicks it back into the danger area and Gvardiol, who leaps like a salmon to flip the ball past Bono. An impressive start from Croatia gets its reward.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:02 am ET · James Benge]

Kick off

We're off and running at the Khalifa International Stadium! Under fairly minimal pressure from Croatia Bono nearly shanks a pass into his own net, lucky to concede a corner. Proper third place playoff vibes there.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 10:02 am ET · James Benge]

A remarkable streak

Even Luka Modric wasn't alive the last time a European team did not win the third place play off, all the way back in 1978. Can Morocco pull off what would be a major achievement for Africa?

[Dec 17, 2022 at 9:57 am ET · James Benge]

The teams are out

Kick off is just moments away.

[Dec 17, 2022 at 8:49 am ET · James Benge]

Last time out

You don't need to dig too far back for the last time these two teams met, 24 days to be precise, when they played out a tame 0-0 draw that was deemed a more impressive result for Morocco than a Croatia team who faced questions over whether they could match their feat of reaching the final in 2018. They didn't quite but few would have expected such a deep run from either team on the basis of that opener.

"There was a lot of hesitation for the first game," said Walid Regragui, who is expecting a very different game this time out. "Both teams will want to win. A lot of people said Croatia were approaching the end of their cycle and they got stick for not beating 'underdogs' Morocco, but both teams reached the semi-finals."

[Dec 17, 2022 at 8:32 am ET · James Benge]

Viewing information

• Date: Saturday, Dec. 17 | Time: 10 a.m. ET
• Location: Khalifa International Stadium, -- Doha, Qatar
• TV: Fox | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
• Odds: Croatia +125; Draw +240; Morocco +210 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

[Dec 17, 2022 at 9:20 am ET · James Benge]

The best of the best

It's probably no surprise that at least two of the representatives in our team of the tournament are Hakimi and Livakovic, the tournament's best shot stopper and its leading tackler. But there is yet more Moroccan and Croatian representation in the XI as well.

Getty Images

"A goalkeeper of the tournament probably needs to have been busy and delivered in clutch moments. Wojciech Szczesny deserves a brief mention in both regards, but really the decision is obvious. No one has made as many saves as Dominik Livakovic, no one has prevented more goals according to Opta's expected goals (xG) model and no one else can say they were the hero of two penalty shootouts. "

Peruse the team in full here

[Dec 17, 2022 at 8:58 am ET · James Benge]

Teams in full

Croatia XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Gvardiol, Perisic; Modric, Kovacic, Majer; Livaja, Kramaric, Orsic

Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Dari, El Yamiq, Attiat-Allah; El Khannouss, Amrabat, Sabiri; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal

[Dec 17, 2022 at 7:47 am ET · James Benge]

Good morning

Welcome to nobody's idea of the biggest game at the World Cup, the third place playoff. Even with the best of teams this is not always a barn burner (and when it is you wonder if people have stopped trying) but it is not as if Morocco and Croatia have traded in goals aplenty in this tournament. Indeed when they met in the group stage it was a 0-0 draw that might generously have been described as a slow burner. Something more goal-y would not go amiss this time around.