Mislav Orsic’s superb goal late in the first half saw Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in the third-place play-off at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco was without key defenders Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguirre, and Noussair Mazrouei and they started uncertainly before Josco Guardiola cleverly converted a set piece in the seventh minute. But Moroccan center-back Achraf Dari was left unmarked to strike immediately.
Both sides continued to attack with pressure, making for a fascinating spectacle. The most spectacular moment of the first half came when Orsic lifted a beautiful finish over Bono and into the far post after the Morocco goalkeeper had seen his team take possession on the edge of his area.
Both sides suffered injuries after their excellent campaigns in Qatar and the second period was more lackluster after putting everything on the line last time out.
Croatia vs Morocco Final Score
| Team | 1H | 2H | Final |
| Croatia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Morocco | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Goals:
CRO – Josko Guardiola – 7th minute.
More – Achraf Dari – 9th minute.
CRO — Mislav Orsic — 42nd minute.
Morocco soon fell into disarray after repeatedly trying and failing to play through Croatia’s clever press. In the end, a clever set piece held them back, with Ivan Perisic scoring a goal back for Guardiola and erasing the memory of the semi-final agony at the hands of Lionel Messi.
Croatia immediately left the door wide open when Luka Modric half-blocked a wide free-kick and Dari was allowed to head the ball past Dominik Livakovic.
Modric, playing on this stage for the last time despite an apparent immunity to fatigue at the age of 37, conducted proceedings in typically masterful fashion, but Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal ensured Morocco’s threat remained on the counter.
This made for an interesting game of cat and mouse before Orsic produced the cream. The Atlas Lions regained possession on the edge of their own box but the Dinamo Zagreb winger had too much to do when Marko Livza dispossessed him.
He did his job with great composure, which was more than could be said for referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim, when he failed to punish Sofiane Amrabat for what appeared to be a foul on Guardiola in the box in the 73rd minute.
Amrabat was operating as an emergency centre-back at that stage due to injuries to Dari and Javad El-Jamik, but Morocco continued to struggle until the end and the onrushing Youssef N-Nesiri forced extra time around half an hour later. Roof of the net in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Lineup:
Croatia (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Livakovic (GK) – 2. Stanisic, 24, Sutalo, 20. Guardiol, 4. Perisic – 10. Modric, 8. Kovacic — 9. Ordinal, 7. Major, 18. Orsic – 14. Livaja
Morocco (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Bono (GK) – 2. Hakimi, 20. Dari, 18. El Yamik, 25. Attiyat-Allah – 23. El-Khanous, 4. Amrabat, 11 Sabiri – 7. Ziyech, 19. An-Nesiri, 17. Boufal
Croatia vs Morocco as it happened, 2022 World Cup highlights
FULL TIME: Croatia players come off the bench as Morocco surrounds and lambasts the referee. Try to make them not mind this game. Last time runner-up, Croatia – this remarkably European nation of only four million people – is back on the World Cup podium.
90th minute+6: Oh, so close. Youssef N-Nessiri rises brilliantly above Ivan Perisic at the far post but he can’t steer his header down and it curls into the top of the net.
90th minute+4: Croatia are two minutes away from claiming a place on the podium as Luka Modric departs. Morocco’s attack is getting a little more desperate. Defensive midfielder Kristian Jakic comes in for potential matchwinner Mislav Orsic.
90th minute: There will be another six minutes, with Moroccan fans urging their team on, encouraging another roar.
85th minute: Selim Amallah fouled Bruno Petkovic as full-time approached. Amallah is booked.
82nd minute: Changes and injuries seem to have taken a heavy toll on Morocco and Croatia at the top. Bruno Petkovic wins his last corner.
74th minute: Mayhem here. Amrabat finds everything in the world that brought Guardiol to the box. The referee waves, the Moroccan breaks, and twice goes close himself. Finally, we get a break in the game and VAR sees nothing wrong with it!
71st minute: Sofyan Amrabat, in that new and unfamiliar role, gives the ball away, and substitute Nikola Vlasic fires from outside the area.
68th minute: It’s easy to start questioning the wisdom of this extra game within a packed tournament schedule because they’re dropping like flies right now. Jawad El-Yamik is limping off, which means it’s now a case of any warm body at Moroccan center-back. Midfielder Selim Amallah is active, with Sofyan Amrabat back in defense.
45th min+2: Marco Livazza’s shot looks to have a nasty deflection but Bono puts the ball back into the pouch.
45th minute: There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this thoroughly entertaining half.
42nd minute: GOOOOAALLLL!!!! Mislav Orsic!!!!
What an amazing finish from Orsic! Again, Morocco gave up possession on the edge of their box but the Dinamo Zagreb winger had more to do as he lifted a right-footed finish over Bono from the left side of the area and at the far post. Absolutely sublime.
40th minute: Hakim Ziyech lines up inside and a long-range shot. It’s off-target but shows how much he’s occupying with confidence. Chelsea fans want him back from some bottles and queues.
37th minute: Hakim Ziyech and Youssef N-Nesiri’s in-swinging corner scored with a header off the post. It’s a stick-wide shimmer with no one available to apply the finish.
33rd minute: Sofiane Boufal produced another surprise in Morocco’s attack, coming off the wing and intermingling brilliantly with Bilal Khanous. Josip Sutalo returns to make a crucial tackle.
29th minute: Morocco is now largely restricted to operating on the break, but boy is they good at it. Achraf Hakim and Hakim Ziyech exchange passes and the Paris Saint-Germain full-back is down the right. His cross is a little on the wild side and flies past Youssef N-Nessiri, who might have expected a simple finish.
23rd minute: It’s comedy hour in Morocco’s defense, with Modric dropping two quick clearances to claim possession on the edge of the box. The master playmaker shuffles into space and lets Bono fly over with a deflected shot before managing to pounce on the rebound from Marco Livazza.
18th minute: Sofiane Boufal disposed and here comes Croatia again. Andrzej Kramaric had the Moroccan defense at his wits end before making a routine save for Bono.
14th minute: Morocco is not covering themselves in glory, trying to play through the Croatia press. Again they lose possession and Josip Stanisic, from right-back, is quick.
10th minute: Mislav Orsic fires wide from 25 yards for Croatia. If you were wondering how these two defensively cautious teams could approach this formal match, you have your answer!
9th minute: GOOAALLLL!!!! Acharaf Dari!!!!!
However, Croatia’s lead did not last long. The set piece is taken short and the delivery balloons out of Modric’s attempted block and into the box. Somewhat foolishly, nobody decided to mark Dari and the big center-back happily headed home from close range. Handbrakes are locked everywhere.
The given video is available in US
AND JUST LIKE THAT MOROCCO TIES IT 😱
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 17, 2022
What a start to this game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0XMc73VOA1
7th minute: GOOAAALLLL!!!! Josco Guardiola!!!
It was on the cards and the opening goal was worked wonderfully by Croatia, Ivan Perisic glancing a free-kick towards the center of the goal and Guardiola sending in a fine diving header.
The given video is available in US
CROATIA STRIKES FIRST 🇭🇷
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 17, 2022
Joško Gvardiol puts Croatia on top in just 7 minutes ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/eF7pRGR9zM
3rd minute: Morocco cleared their lines, more by accident than design. This is a backline thrown together due to injury, mind you, but Walid Regragui is not a happy man with this start.
2nd minute: Ivan Perisic came down the left and delivered a dangerous cross headed by Achraf Dari. Bono then gives away a corner – something of a relief after he almost boots the ball into his own net.
1st minute: And we’re off. Croatia played for third place in their first World Cup, defeating the Netherlands after losing in the semi-finals to eventual winners France.
Croatia vs Morocco lineup, team news
Josip Juranovic sits out due to a knock, ending a great individual contest on the sidelines, and Bayern Munich right-back Josip Stanisic takes his place. In an attacking XI with Ivan Perisic back at left back, Josip Sutalo dazzled in the heart of the defense alongside Josco Guardiola.
Midfielder Marcelo Brozovic is injured, meaning Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic team up to play deeper roles, leaving Lovro Major as the lone attacking midfielder. Marco Livza gets the nod ahead of Bruno Petkovic to handle centre-forward duties.
Croatia lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Livakovic (GK) — 2. Stanisic, 24, Sutalo, 20. Guardiol, 4. Perisic — 10. Modric, 8. Kovacic — 9. Kramarik , 7. Majer, 18. Orsic – 14. Livaja
Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguirre, and left-back Nosaire Mazraoui were all forced out against France, with West Ham’s Aguirre withdrawing after warm-ups and missing out on the defensive trio.
Centre-forward Youssef N-Nesiri has knocked and led the line alongside Sofiane Boufal and Hakim Ziyech. Belgian-born teenager Bilal El-Khanous started in midfield.
Morocco (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Bono (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 20. Dari, 18. El Yamik, 25. Attiyat-Allah — 8. Onahi, 4. Amrabat, 15. Amallah — 7. Ziyech, 21-Cheddira, 17. Boufl