FIFA WC Croatia 2-1 Morocco: Modric signs off on World Cup podium as Gvardiol and Orsic strike bronze

Goals
of
real
wonder
from
Josko
Gvardiol
and
Mislav
Orsic
meant
the
runners-up
from
four
years
ago
in
Russia
finished
this
campaign
on
a
high,
following
the
blow
of
losing
to
Argentina
in
the
semi-finals.

Croatia
are
hopeful
captain
Modric,
at
the
age
of
37,
will
decide
to
play
on
and
take
part
in
their
Euro
2024
campaign,
but
this
was
a
World
Cup
farewell
for
the
Real
Madrid
midfielder.

Gvardiol
gave
Croatia
a
seventh-minute
lead
at
Khalifa
International
Stadium.
Although
Achraf
Dari
swiftly
brought
Morocco
level,
Orsic’s
brilliant
finish
just
before
half-time
proved
to
be
the
match-winner.

Gvardiol’s
goal
was
a
super
header
into
the
left
corner
after
Lovro
Majer’s
free-kick
into
the
penalty
area
was
skilfully
nodded
towards
the
penalty
spot
by
Ivan
Perisic.

Morocco
were
level
just
112
seconds
minutes
later,
though,
with
Dari
applying
a
close-range
finish
with
his
head
after
Hakim
Ziyech’s
free-kick
from
the
right
flank
was
sent
looping
up
by
a
heavy
touch
off
Croatia’s
Majer.

Yassine
Bounou
had
almost
sliced
a
pass
into
his
own
net
early
on,
but
the
Morocco
goalkeeper
was
sharp
enough
to
keep
out
a
low
strike
from
Modric.
However,
he
was
beaten
in
the
42nd
minute
by
an
exquisite
finish
from
Orsic,
who
arced
the
ball
over
the
goalkeeper
from
just
inside
the
left
edge
of
the
penalty
area,
the
shot
going
in
off
the
far
post.

A
deflected
Orsic
strike
from
20
yards
rippled
the
side-netting
early
in
the
second
half
as
Croatia
searched
for
a
third
goal
against
the
team
that
became
Africa’s
first
World
Cup
semi-finalists.

Gvardiol
later
wanted
a
penalty
after
going
down
under
a
challenge
from
Sofyan
Amrabat,
before
Morocco
had
their
big
chance,
with
Youssef
En-Nesyri
denied
from
close
range
by
Dominik
Livakovic.
They
were
left
to
settle
for
fourth,
still
a
huge
achievement.