Fifa World Cup: Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 to finish third in Qatar

Goals from Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic, either side of an equaliser from Achraf Dari, were enough to seal a happy ending to the World Cup for Croatia

Morocco, the first African World Cup semi-finalists in history, had put up a spirited display against 2018 runners-up Croatia in their opening game in Qatar

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Croatia teammates celebrate with their medals as they finish in third place at the Fifa World Cup in Doha, Qatar on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:35am, 18 Dec 2022Updated: 1:47am, 18 Dec 2022

Croatia defeated Morocco 2-1 in the Fifa World Cup third place play-off on Saturday, with Mislav Orsic curling home the winner.

Josko Gvardiol, one of the stars of the tournament in Qatar, headed Croatia into the lead in the seventh minute at the Khalifa International Stadium but Achraf Dari brought Morocco level right away.

Croatia’s Luka Modric holds the bronze medal and celebrates at the end of the Fifa World Cup third-place playoff match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Saturday. Photo: AP

Orsic’s terrific curling strike late in the first half ensured Croatia took home the bronze medal, the 11th World Cup in a row a European team has finished third.

Morocco, the first African World Cup semi-finalists in history, had signalled their intent with a spirited display against 2018 runners-up Croatia in their opening game in Qatar.

The rematch was nothing like the cagey 0-0 draw in the group stage, with Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou dangerously close to passing the ball into his own net early on.

Croatia soon surged in front from a well-rehearsed free-kick as Ivan Perisic nodded Lovro Majer’s clip into the box back towards a diving Gvardiol, who planted his header into the corner.