Third Place Match: Morocco versus Croatia

Morocco versus Croatia was the second to last match of the World Cup. Morocco, the black horse of the tournament, beat out the expected winner, Croatia. Morocco beat team after team: Spain 0-0 (3-0) with the penalty kick and even Christiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 1-0 in the quarterfinals before losing to the unbeatable 2018 World Cup winner, France. 

Croatia was a team that had also made some upsets on their side during this World Cup. They stopped the “Blue Lock” dream of Japan 1-1 (3-1) in the round of 16 and upset number one ranked Brazil 1-1 (4-2) with another shootout win in the quarterfinals. Croatia lost to Argentina in the semifinals, but in the third place match they could reclaim their prestige through a win against Morocco. 

Morocco and Croatia had already faced each other in the group stage, where they tied 0-0. Now, however, there would be no tie. This was the match for the third place trophy.

Croatia stayed on the Moroccan side for the start of the game and opened the match up with a falling header goal that Croatian Joško Gvardiol put in. Gvardiol wore a carbon face protector because he broke his nose in a club match, and he looked fierce. Even injured, he still was called up by Croatia and was still putting in the work for that goal, and with his head nonetheless. 

Not long after Gvardiol’s goal, Morocco drew a penalty. Hakim Ziyech took the free kick. He lobbed it haphazardly forward, but then Archraf Dari headed it in under Croatian goalie Dominik Livaković, who threw himself in front of the shot. 

Like a mirror for the Croatian goal, an opportunity was made, Ziyech took it and it led to a goal. Morocco ties it up 1-1. 

Not much happened from there. Morocco threw away a perfect goal chance in the 28th minute. But before the half ended, Mislav Oršić took a chance shot from left of the goal and hit it right under the top crossbar, scoring another Croatian goal. Advantage Croatia, 2-1. 

In the second half, more chances were made on both sides. Croatia put even more pressure on Morocco and shut down all of Morocco’s chances with ease. For the most part, Croatia glided into the win for that third place trophy. Morocco did their best with a final attempt; Yahia Attiyat Allah made a brilliant header that was just slightly too high in the 6 extra minutes of the game. The whistle blew with Croatia taking third and Morocco taking fourth.

Morocco versus Croatia was a close game with two strong teams. Croatia has great offensive playmakers and scorers, and that shone through. Not only that, they locked in the lead after their second goal. Then there is Morocco, the team that shook up “the best teams” and rallied a continent behind them. Morocco gave their all in this game to regain some honor after the loss to France, but I think the loss to France made them lose momentum, and Croatia made that clear. Morocco missed too many open chances and did not deliver in this game for third. 

The match for third place was a prelude for the finals. The losers have had their fun. It is time to see what the winners of the semifinals did.