World Cup: Croatia defeat Morocco 2-1 to finish third

Superb goals from Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic helped Croatia defeat Morocco 2-1 to finish in third place for the second time at a World Cup.

Defeat for Morocco saw them miss out on the chance to become the first African nation to pick up a medal at a World Cup, while Croatia’s victory meant a European nation has now won the third-place play-off in the last 11 tournaments.

Croatia took a seventh-minute lead through a stunning diving header from Gvardiol to cap off a fine tournament for the impressive 20-year-old centre-back.

But Morocco responded immediately as Achraf Dari nodded home from close range just two minutes later.

Croatia restored their lead, though, in the 42nd minute with a wonderful curling winner from Orsic as his first-time effort inside the box bent past Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and went in off the far post.

Morocco came close to a late equaliser but Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic denied Youssef En-Nesyri to ensure they claimed their second World Cup bronze medal after achieving the feat in 1998.

Speaking after the game, Luka Modric said: “About my future? I don’t know if I will be (playing) until the Euros in Germany.

“We will see. I need to go step by step. I am enjoying the national team. I feel happy.

“I still think I can perform on a high level and I want to continue until at least the Nations League.

“Then after, there will be more time to think about the Euros. Now it is go step by step and continue at least until Nations League and then we will see.”

Modric made his international debut in 2006, in the same game that Lionel Messi scored his first international goal.

Four of his five Champions League wins came alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

His achievements in Russia in 2018 won him the World Cup’s Golden Ball and helped him to become the only other man to claim a Ballon d’Or in that decade.

The Star