Croatia picked up bronze at the Qatar FIFA World Cup after beating Morocco 2-1 in the 3rd/4th playoff at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday evening.
Apart from the third-place finish, they will also walk away with $2 million more than their opponents, bagging a total of $27 million (R477m) in prize money. Fourth earned $25 million (R441m)
It was the 2018 finalists who would open the scoring in the seventh minute, Joko Gvardiol finishing off a good set-piece move with an excellent header that left Yassine Bounou with no chance.
But there was an instant response from the Atlas Lions, who were awarded a free kick and Achraf Dari found himself completely unmarked and headed in the equaliser a minute later.
There were chances at both ends in a fast-paced first half, and it was Croatia who would regain the lead in the 43rd minute, Mislav Orsic’s well-placed shot from the left hitting the inside of right upright before going in.
2-1 to Croatia at the break, the second half continued at a similar pace, but as both teams began making changes, their rhythms were slightly affected.
With fifteen minutes to go, Gvardiol thought he had a penalty, and while laying in the opposition area, the Moroccans went close at the other end, but Dominik Livakovic made an excellent save to stop Yousseff En-Nesyri’s shot.
The Moroccans pressed hard for a late equaliser and went narrowly close in stoppage time, but Croatia held out and walked away with the bronze.
The World Cup concludes on Sunday when Argentina and defending champions France lock horns in the final at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
