Luka Modric leads Croatia to third in what could well be the midfield superstar’s last World Cup appearance
Post Date – 10:51 PM, Saturday – 12/17/22
Allen: Luka Modric led Croatia to third in what could well be the midfield superstar’s final World Cup appearance.
The runners-up four years ago won another medal with a 2-1 win over Morocco in Saturday’s third-place match.
Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before half-time at the Khalifa International Stadium to ensure Modric ended the game on a winning streak if it were indeed his last World Cup game .
At 37, that seems possible, even with hopes of leading his country at Euro 2024.
Josko Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead in the seventh minute, but Achraf Dari equalized in the ninth minute.
This is the second time Croatia has finished third. The team also achieved this achievement in 1998, when they participated in the World Cup for the first time as an independent nation.
Morocco’s campaign ended with two defeats after becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals. But the team’s achievements in Qatar will be remembered with Arab pride.
The World Cup final between defending champions France and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday at the Lusail Stadium.
The third place match was considered by some to be a pointless exhibition match. Even Morocco coach Walid Regragui described it as a “booby prize” in the build-up. But in a tight contest between the two nations, with both teams lacking momentum, few expected to go this far.
This was underscored by the fact that many players needed to be substituted due to injuries in the second half as Morocco fought for an equalizer.
The two teams have already drawn 0-0 in the group stage and advanced to the semi-finals on the back of a tough defense, with six knockouts in total. Goals are not a problem this time.
Maybe that’s because of the relative freedom to play in a game that supposedly carries very little risk. Another factor, at least for Morocco, is the absence of three key defenders, Roman Seth, Naif Aqel and Nusser Mazraoui.
The impact of those absences was felt when Croatia took the lead thanks to Gvardio’s diving header. In a neat move, Ivan Perisic fired a free-kick into the center of the box and the centre-back did the rest.
Morocco responded two minutes later when Dari headed home an equalizer from a Hakim Ziyech free-kick after Lovro Mayer inadvertently assisted.
However, Croatia regained the lead three minutes before half-time.
Osic received the ball on the left side of the penalty area and shot it into the top corner of the goal. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou touched the ball but could only push it up the post on its way into the net.