Croatia vs Morocco 2-1: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
Live updates from the World Cup third-place playoff between Morocco and Croatia at Khalifa International Stadium.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the World Cup 2022 match between Croatia and Morocco on Saturday, December 14.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the World Cup 2022 match between Croatia and Morocco on Saturday, December 14.
- Croatia XI: Livakovic, Stanisic, Perisic, Majer (Pasalic, 66′), Kovacic, Kramaric (Vlasic, 61′), Modric, Livaja (Petkovic, 66′), Orsic (Jakic, 90′), Gvardiol, Sutalo.
- Morocco XI: Bounou, Hakimi, Dari (Benoun, 64′), El Yamiq (Amallah, 67′), Attiat-Allah, Amrabat, El Khannouss (Ounahi, 56′), Ziyech, Sabiri (Chair, 46′), Boufal (Zaroury, 64′), En-Nesyri.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
That’s your lot
A fairly thrilling 2-1 victory for Croatia dispelled any worries that this game would fall somewhat flat due to tiredness and injuries on both sides. Attention now moves on to the big game tomorrow, as France and Argentina fight it out for the third World Cup they both seek.
Until next time …
How the game was won
An exciting third-place playoff went the way of the pre-game favourites, but it wasn’t a straightforward affair.
You can read our match report here to catch up on the action.
Future bright for Atlas Lions
Players like Hakim Ziyech, 29, and Romain Saiss, 32, might struggle to make the next World Cup in four years or at least not be at their peak.
However, the rest of the players on this Morocco team are in their mid-20s for the most part, so they should be in a good place come 2026.
Croatia pick up their medals
They’ve cemented their reputation as a great national side after following up their second place finish in 2018 with a bronze medal here.
Modric and company look as delighted as you’d expect with this result after a hard-fought 90 minutes.
Modric ran the show as usual
Luka Modric's game by numbers vs. Morocco:
100% long ball accuracy
100% take-on success
93% pass accuracy
83 touches
7 final third entries
6x possession won
5 duels won
4 accurate long balls
2 tackles
2 interceptionsIt's what he does. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/jk8TvgC3dp
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 17, 2022
Morocco can’t have any complaints
They were looking for free kicks for every slight as that game went on, but they were beaten by the better team today. Croatia created a good few chances on the break at 2-1, and deservedly finish in third place at this World Cup.
Bronze after silver last time
#CROATIA
TAKES
THE#FIFAWORLDCUP
BRONZE!
🥉#CROMAR #Qatar2022 #Family #Vatreni❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/LVGrivUhEq— HNS (@HNS_CFF) December 17, 2022
Full-time
We may not have seen any more goals in the second half, but it was still an intriguing watch with both teams getting feisty as the game progressed. Croatia showed their class at this level and had better chances to score even as Morocco chased a leveller.
Some of the Morocco players surrounded the referee at the end, but if anything, it’s Croatia that should have had a penalty awarded in that second half.
Not a great look from the Atlas Lions, but they’ve been a great team throughout this World Cup.
En Nesyri heads over
It was another great leap like his goal against Portugal, but he heads over.
90+6 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Kristijan Jakic on for Croatia
Orsic goes off.
90+5 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Atlas Lions piling pressure on
Croatia are camped in their own half but heading everything that Morocco throw at them to safety.
90+4 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Morocco sending it long
En-Nesyri is caught offside from the long pass, however, so his header meant little.
90+3 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Six minutes added on
Plenty of time for Morocco to get themselves back in this game.
90+1 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Kovacic fires wide
It’s on his left foot and his just pulls it wide after a late run into the box. That was a big chance to end this game.
88 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Amallah gets booked
He’s not happy with the referee and it’s unclear whether the yellow card was for the stray arm or his arguments thereafter.
86 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Petkovic in space
He’s in acres of space on the left-hand side, but eventually crosses and it deflects wide for a corner. Orsic takes the delivery in but it’s headed out at the first attempt.
84 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Contentious call
The replays of that Gvardiol penalty claim would suggest that Amrabat got away with one there. Surprising that VAR didn’t ask Abdulrahman al-Jassim to go to the monitor and reconsider his decision.
80 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Brilliant Livakovic save
En Nesyri shoots from close range but once again the Croatia keeper is in the right position. Hakimi now goes down looking for a penalty but it was outside the box.
77 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Morocco throwing numbers forward
They play a series of long balls towards the Croatia box, but it keeps coming back at them.
Gvardiol is looking for a penalty at the other end but the referee doesn’t agree with his interpretation.
75 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Vlasic shoots over
He strikes it well, but it ends up going several feet over the bar in the end.
It was ambitious from outside of the box, but that’s what he’s been brought on to try to do.
72 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Ounahi booked
He picks up the first yellow card of the day for his protestations at the referee awarding a foul.
70 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Changes for both sides
Majer and Livaja go off with Mario Pasalic and Bruno Petkovic coming on for Croatia.
El Yamiq also needs to go off with an injury, with Selim Amallah coming on and Amrabat moving into defence.
68 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Morocco changes
Badr Benoun and Anass Zaroury come on, with Dari and Boufal leaving the field of play.
65 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco
Who says football doesn’t matter?
According to the French Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, more than 780,000 people of Moroccan origin live in France. A visa dispute has made it difficult for their relatives in Morocco to visit them.
But after their two national teams played this week, France has ended its visa restrictions and restored normal consular relations with Morocco.
Read this:
Fresh from World Cup game, France ends Morocco visa restrictions
Kramaric off
He’s in tears as he leaves the pitch, with Nikola Vlasic about to come on in his place.
61 mins: Croatia 2-1 Morocco