Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: Croatia thrashed Morocco 2-1 in the 3rd position play-off of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at Khalifa International Football Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday night.
The semifinal losers started the third-position contest heartlessly, as Morocco had many errors at the start of the game. During the first three minutes, Croatia missed a couple of open chances to get the upper hand in the match, but they missed these chances. However, Josko Gvardiol netted the ball with his head spectacularly, as he got flying passing from the left side and put his team 1-0 ahead.
After going down 1-0, the Morocco footballers changed their tactic and made some joint efforts from both flanks left and right, as they succeeded in leveling the match 1-1 after two minutes. Achraf Dari scored the goal for Morocco.
After 1-1, both teams showed some aggression and attached each other goalposts countless times. Morocco wasted two open chances in the 24th and 29th minute to earn the lead in the vital match of the Qatar Football World Cup 2022.
FIFA World Cup 2022 third position play-off
Around three minutes before the break, Croatian forward Mislav Orsic scored the second goal for his team in the 42nd minute, as he received the ball in the box on the left side, he kicked the ball to the left side of the goal side that went into the goal after hitting the goalpost.
Morocco tried their best to bounce back in the match and square the score 2-2, but Croatian defenders and goalkeeper were alerted to halt their attempts. After the first half, the score-line was 2-1 in the favour of Croatia.
Meanwhile, in the second half, Croatian players kept possession of the ball and made combined moves to enhance the lead, as they missed a golden occasion in the 51st minute when M Livaja kicked the ball inches away from the target. Morocco presented a rough game in the middle of the second half, and they attempted six fouls. Croatia also made some errors and played 9 fouls after completing the 70 minutes of the game.
In the last moments, Morocco got an occasion to level the game in the injury time but failed to level the game. Croatian defenders well-marked Hakimi, and the second half ended goalless, as Croatia claimed the third position in the FIFA World Cup 2022. At the final whistle, the score was Croatia 2 and Morocco 1 after 90 minutes of the game.
Morocco (Play XIs):
Bono (goalkeeper), Y A Allah, Achraf Dari, J Yamiq, A Hakimi, A Sabiri, S Amrabat, B El Khallouss, S Boufal, Y En Nesyri, H Ziyech,
Croatia (Play XIs):
D Livaaovic (goalkeeper), J Stanisic, J Sutalo, Josko Gvardiol, I Eerisic, L Modric, N Kovacic, L Majer, A Kramaric, Mislav Orsic, M Livaja
3rd Position Play-off: (Croatia beat Morocco) 2-1
Final on December 18, 2022 (Argentina vs France)
