Croatia secured third place at the World Cup in Qatar with a narrow win over Morocco. What used to be dismissed as “sportingly meaningless” developed into a plea for the “small final”.
For the second time after 1998, the team from Croatia finished third in the World Cup
Wasn't it nice what Morocco and Croatia brought to the field in their first meeting at the World Cup in Qatar in Group F almost four weeks ago: combative, yes – tactically controlled, also – but attractive? Certainly not. In the end, the first round match between the two teams was 0-0, which Morocco was generally able to claim as a success at the time. In this early phase of the World Cup in Qatar, who could have guessed that the two teams would not only make it out of the group, but also finish in the top four?
Vice World Champion against a surprise team
In the case of Croatia, that didn't seem far off the mark, as they had even made it to the final four years ago, only to lose out against the French. Even if world star Luka Modric, the lynchpin, is getting on in years. But with Morocco? The exit after the preliminary round was considered a foregone conclusion, reaching the round of 16 was lucky, a coincidence, because group favorites Belgium showed unexpected weaknesses.
But Morocco made its way. Eliminated Spain, eliminated Portugal, defied France for a long time. With fighting spirit, discipline, the audience behind you and players who surpassed themselves. Even losing out in the semi-finals couldn't break the North Africans, the beacons of hope for the entire Arab world. And Croatia? The runners-up had worked their way into the semi-finals via a series of penalties against Japan and fellow favorites Brazil and also seemed poised to go home with a medal. Assistant coach Ivica Olic put it like this after the game against Morocco: “After the loss against Argentina, the two days were not that easy, the boys really wanted to play the final.”
The free-kick variant works: In the end, Josko Gvardiol (right) heads the ball into the goal
So the often scolded “game for the golden pineapple” turned into another football festival in the Persian Gulf. The first excitement came after two minutes when Morocco's otherwise strong goalkeeper Bono almost scored a strange own goal: when trying to pass the ball parallel to the goal line to his teammate, he got stuck in the grass and the ball only moved a few centimeters past the post.
The first goals also came early: after a brilliant free-kick variant, former Bundesliga professional Ivan Perisic headed back to the penalty spot, from where RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol netted with a diving header (7'). Anyone who thought Morocco was going to be impressed had to be proven wrong just 148 seconds later when Achraf Dari surprisingly equalized with his team's first goal (9').
La Ola and offensive spirit
And after that, too, the game swayed back and forth, just as La Ola sloshed through the atmospheric stadium. However, only Croatia scored another goal in the first half: Mislav Orsic, released on the left corner of the penalty area, flicked the ball over the puzzled Bono to the inside post and from there into the net (42').
After the change of sides, both teams noticed the previous strains from six tournament games, but that didn't dampen the passion. Although the injury breaks became more frequent and longer, both the Moroccans and the Croatians had chances to score. And if the Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim and his colleagues on the video court had been more attentive, they would probably have recognized a penalty in favor of the Croatians after a foul on Gvardiol. Either way, it was clear that both really wanted third place.
Mislav Orsic's ball is getting longer and longer, Morocco's goalkeeper Bono can't get to it
It is at least no surprise that victory went narrowly to Croatia. The game system is a bit more mature, the defense is clearer, the evaluation of chances is more effective, at least in this game. And they also seemed a little fitter: “We deserved to win, also because we had an extra day off,” said Ivica Olic. “We also wanted to win this game to finish third, but it's not easy,” said Morocco goalkeeper Bono, admitting: “After the game against France we were mentally and physically exhausted.” Despite this, the equalizer almost came in the sixth minute of injury time, but Youssef En-Nesyri's header flew just over the bar. The Croatians were allowed to celebrate, and they did, almost as if they had just won the title. “A great feeling,” says Olic.
Frustration and disappointment in Morocco
Croatia is third in the World Cup for the second time since 1998 – when the “golden generation” around Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinecki took part. And Morocco can also be proud of what they have achieved: they are the first African country to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, and also the first Arab and African countries – and that as absolute outsiders. “If you want to win and then you don't, then of course you're disappointed, but the team did a good job,” said goalkeeper Bono. “Fourth place is incredible for us, for Africa. We can be proud of that.”
Referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim from Qatar has to listen to a lot from Morocco's players after the final whistle
But despite the success, everyone was upset and angry after the final whistle: Morocco's players pressed the Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al after the final whistle Jassim. Many fans directed their anger at FIFA President Gianni Infantino because Al Jassim, an internationally inexperienced referee from the World Cup host country, was allowed to referee this game that was so important for them. The only one to remain calm was Morocco coach Walid Regragui. “When we lose a game we're always disappointed. If you sometimes overreact after a game, that can happen,” he said. “My players are very ambitious, it wasn't a lack of respect.” However, he admitted that harassing the referee after the game was “not the Moroccan way”.
Nevertheless, the disappointment of the Moroccans – just like the jubilation of the Croatians – shows that this game for third place was by no means a game without meaning.