As Croatia defeated Morocco 2-1 in the World Cup's third-place game on Saturday, Luka Modric concluded his World Cup career with the consolation gift of a bronze medal for Qatar 2022.

Following the disappointment of losing to Argentina in the semi-finals, goals of great marvel from Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic allowed the runners-up from four years ago in Russia to finish this campaign on a high.

Croatia hopes that their 37-year-old skipper Modric will decide to continue playing and participate in their Euro 2024 campaign, but this was the midfielder for Real Madrid's final World Cup game.

Gvardiol gave Croatia a seventh-minute lead at Khalifa International Stadium. Although Achraf Dari swiftly brought Morocco level, Orsic's brilliant finish just before half-time proved to be the match winner.

Gvardiol's goal was a super header into the left corner after Lovro Majer's free-kick into the penalty area was skilfully nodded towards the penalty spot by Ivan Perisic.

Morocco were level just 112 seconds minutes later, though, with Dari applying a close-range finish with his head after Hakim Ziyech's free-kick from the right flank was sent looping up by a heavy touch off Croatia's Majer.

Yassine Bounou had almost sliced a pass into his own net early on, but the Morocco goalkeeper was sharp enough to keep out a low strike from Modric. However, he was beaten in the 42nd minute by an exquisite finish from Orsic, who arced the ball over the goalkeeper from just inside the left edge of the penalty area, the shot going in off the far post.

A deflected Orsic strike from 20 yards rippled the side-netting early in the second half as Croatia searched for a third goal against the team that became Africa's first World Cup semi-finalists.

Gvardiol later wanted a penalty after going down under a challenge from Sofyan Amrabat, before Morocco had their big chance, with Youssef En-Nesyri denied from close range by Dominik Livakovic. He had another last-gasp opening too for Morocco, but sent a header just over the bar. They were left to settle for fourth, still a huge achievement.

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Source: Livescore