Croatia battled previous Morocco to seal third place in Qatar on Saturday, matching their achievement from the 1998 World Cup in France.
Achraf Dari cancelled out Josko Gvardiol’s opener, as each side founds the goal inside 9 minutes. It was left to Mislav Orsic to supply the decisive second, along with his pleasant curled effort discovering the far nook through the submit.
Following an entertaining third-place play-off, Sportsmail’s Sam Brookes charges the gamers from each groups.
Croatia sealed third place on the World Cup by beating Morocco on Saturday afternoon
Croatia
Dominik Livakovic – Not a lot he might have completed with Dari’s close-range header. Made a superb save to disclaim En-Nesyri within the second half which prevented the sport from going to extra-time. 7.5
Josip Stanisic – Has needed to play second fiddle to Juranovic for a lot of the match however got here in and delivered a stable efficiency right here. 6.5
Josip Sutalo – Solely 22 yr of age however confirmed no indicators of nerves on this sport as he changed Lovren. Got here throughout nicely to place Boufal off within the first half when the Moroccan winger seemed to have a superb capturing alternative. 6
Josko Gvardiol – Messi could have made him look a bit silly in Wednesday’s semi-final, however Messi has made most defenders look silly over time. Gvardiol bounced again nicely right here, scoring a diving header and making some necessary clearances. 7
Ivan Perisic – The Tottenham wing-back is lower than two months away from his thirty fourth birthday however has proven no indicators of slowing down but. His well-directed header arrange Gvardiol’s aim, and he linked up successfully with Orsic all through. 7
Ivan Perisic was a continuing handful down the left flank for Croatia in opposition to Morocco
Andrej Kramaric – Labored laborious down the correct wing, however his remaining ball lacked high quality. There was one explicit event within the second half the place he needed to get a shot off or at the very least discover a team-mate, and he ended up doing neither. 6
Lovro Majer – Has been extra of an impression participant at this World Cup however deputised for Brozovic right here and did a positive job. It was his delicate clipped ball that led to Croatia’s opening aim. 7
Luka Modric – Pulled the strings in midfield for most likely the ultimate time at a significant match. Has led his facet to top-three finishes on the final two World Cups, and if he does now bow out, it has been an absolute pleasure to observe the maestro at work. 8
Luka Modric dazzled in his remaining World Cup look as his facet secured third place
Mateo Kovacic – A few driving runs from midfield, and performed some good via balls that have been wasted by the workforce’s attackers. 7.5
Mislav Orsic – Was a risk each time he received the ball. Took his aim beautifully, and will have had one other however hit the side-netting early within the second half. Supplied the spark that has been missing with a few of Croatia’s attacking play on this match. 7.5
Mislav Orsic scored a implausible aim on the finish of the primary half that proved to be the winner
Marko Livaja – Got here near getting on the tip of a harmful Majer cross within the second half. Croatia have struggled to switch Mandzukic lately, and Livaja nonetheless has loads to do to show that he might be the workforce’s long-term No 9. 6.5
Substitutes
Nikola Vlasic – Changed Kramaric with hour an hour to go and added vitality, however did waste one good alternative as he hit a shot from the sting of the realm nicely over. 6.5
Mario Pasalic – Had one probability to burst into the field and get a shot off, however dallied on the ball too lengthy and the chance was gone. Summed up Croatia’s hesitant attacking play at sure factors throughout this match which is the one factor that has allow them to down in Qatar. 6
Bruno Petkovic – Gained a few free-kicks for his facet as Croatia seemed to wind the clock down within the remaining minutes of the sport. 7
Kristijan Jakic – N/A
Supervisor
Zlatko Dalic – Needed to take care of some accidents heading into this match, however put out a workforce that largely managed the sport, and he might be immensely happy with his workforce’s achievement in Qatar. 8
Morocco
Yassine Bounou – Virtually scored a ridiculous early personal aim when he performed the ball throughout his six-yard field and out for a nook. Recovered nicely from his scare, although, and pulled off a superb cease to disclaim Modric earlier than half time. 7
Achraf Hakimi – Stored driving his workforce ahead till the tip. He has confirmed at this World Cup why he’s thought of among the best right-backs in world soccer. 7.5
Achraf Hakimi has had a positive World Cup at right-back for Morocco in Qatar
Jawad El Yamiq – Has solely come into the workforce attributable to accidents to Aguerd and Saiss however acquitted himself pretty nicely right here till he was pressured off within the second half attributable to harm. 6.5
Achraf Dari – Was in the correct place on the proper time to attain the equaliser, and battled on bravely when he was clearly scuffling with an harm. In all probability should not have come again out for the second half as he needed to limp off 20 minutes later. 7
Yahia Attiat-Allah – One other participant that will not usually be taking part in, however has needed to are available for Mazraoui. Managed to maintain Kramaric quiet for essentially the most half. 7
Bilal El Khannouss – What an expertise for the 18-year-old. Coming in to switch Ounahi was a thankless activity, however he gave a superb account of himself up in opposition to Modric and co. 6
Sofyan Amrabat – Deserves to be within the workforce of the match. This was not his finest sport and he might have given away a penalty when he appeared to journey Gvardiol, however his inventory has actually risen over the previous few weeks. 7
Sofyan Amrabat needed to play in central midfield and central defence throughout Saturday’s match
Abdelhamid Sabiri – Struggled to get into the sport a lot earlier than the break as Morocco gave the ball away too cheaply too usually. Was changed at half time. 6
Hakim Ziyech – The winger has been a standout performer at this match and has proven that Chelsea must get extra out of him. Linked up nicely with Hakimi at instances, and Morocco seemed a risk down their proper flank. 7
Sofiane Boufal – On the other flank, Boufal has proven that he’s a a lot better participant than the one which pissed off Southampton followers. He was solely in a position to present glimpses of his finest on this match, and maybe this was a sport too far for the 29-year-old. 6.5
Youssef En-Nesyri – So practically the hero for Morocco as his late header hit the roof of the web quite than nestling within the high nook. He’s a significant asset within the air as confirmed by his successful aim in opposition to Portugal within the quarter-finals. 6.5
Youssef En-Neysri got here so near taking the sport to extra-time with a late header
Substitutes
Ilias Chair – Got here on at half time for Sabiri and supplied his facet a little bit extra management in the course of the park. 6.5
Azzedine Ounahi – One of many finds of the match. Clearly wasn’t match sufficient to start out right here, however seemed vibrant off the bench. It’s absolutely solely a matter of time earlier than he’s snapped up by an enormous European membership. 7
Anass Zaroury – Got here on for the tiring Boufal however couldn’t encourage his facet to seize a late equaliser. 6
Badr Benoun – Changed the hobbling Dari at a time when Morocco have been attempting to determine what formation to go together with attributable to so many accidents on the again. Tried his finest however to no avail as Croatia held on. 6
Selim Amallah – Made an impression as he flew into a few tackles. Was maybe a little bit unlucky to be booked for by chance catching Petkovic within the face. 6.5
Supervisor
Walid Regragui – His fingers have been considerably tied attributable to what number of accidents his facet have picked up on the again finish of the match. Nonetheless managed to maintain his workforce aggressive till the tip. 7
Walid Regragui was sad with the officers, however will mirror on an excellent match for his facet
Referee
Abdularahman Al Jassim – Missed a blatant penalty to Croatia when Amrabat tripped Gvardiol within the second half, however ought to have been given some assist by VAR. Stood up nicely to strain from Morocco who have been on the lookout for a late penalty themselves. 6
