2018 runners-up Croatia picked up the bronze medal at the 2022 FIFA Planet Cup after a tough-fought 2-1 gain in excess of Morocco in the 3rd-put playoff. The Europeans have now claimed again-to-again podium finishes in the FIFA Environment Cup for the initial time in their heritage.

Soon after dropping to Argentina and France in the semifinals, Croatia and Morocco locked horns in the 3rd-location playoff for a second time in Qatar. The sides experienced faced off in the team phase and ended up inseparable at the time, taking part in out a goalless draw.

With captain Roman Saiss, Noussair Mazraoui and Nayef Aguerd dominated out via personal injury, the depleted Atlas Lions turned out towards Croatia with the bronze medal on the line.

The game obtained off to an explosive start, with both sides obtaining the web within the opening 10 minutes.

Croatia took the guide just after only seven minutes through a Josko Gvardiol header. A brilliantly-labored free of charge-kick finished up in the box and the 20-12 months-old RB Leipzig star planted a diving header into the back of the net.

Morocco replied quickly by centre-again Achraf Dari, who begun in area of the stricken Saiss. The defender headed the ball earlier Dominik Livakovic a minute soon after the match was restarted.

Following the frantic start out to the sport, the match settled down as both sides seemed to outfox each other.

Croatia delivered the killer blow just as the half was about to come to an finish. Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic curled a initially-time hard work from the edge of the box previous Bono and into the back again of the web via the upright in the 45th moment.

The second half noticed no ambitions scored by possibly facet as the held on to what they experienced. Croatia claimed the bronze medal, with captain Luka Modric taking part in his final Globe Cup match at 37 years aged. They claimed a third podium end in the Planet Cup since their debut in 1998.