2018 finalists, Croatia scored twice on Saturday to deny Morocco of a third-place match finish at the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022.
Josko Gvardiol put the Vatrenis in front in the seventh minute through a diving header which only lasted two minutes as centre back, Achraf Dari, headed home to put Morocco level.
Both teams continued to press for a third in the game until the 42nd minute when Mislav Orlic curled one past the stretch of Bono, off the post before heading straight into the net.
Croatia’s Mislav Orsic scores Croatia’s second goal during the World Cup third-place (Photo: AP/Hassan Ammar)
It was a mildly intense encounter when both teams resumed in the second half with Croatia sitting back to soak in the pressure from the Atlas Lions in the early stages of the half.
Gvardiol gave the Europeans a penalty shout from a challenge by Amrabat in the 74th but the referee thought otherwise.
A few moments later, Livakovic stepped forward to deny En-Nesyri from putting Morocco back level.
With only seconds remaining, En-Nesyri blew a chance to send the game to extra time with a header which went just wide.
