World Cup 2022 in Qatar - Croatia clinch third place with hard-fought victory over Morocco

Mislav Orsic's fantastic strike gave Croatia victory over Morocco in the World Cup third-place play-off.

The 2018 finalists took the lead after seven minutes through a diving header from Josko Gvardiol, after Ivan Perisic headed Lovro Majer's set piece across the area.

This only lasted two minutes before Achraf Dari headed home from close range after Hakim Ziyech's free kick was inadvertently flicked over the defence by Luka Modric.

Three minutes before the interval, the entertaining bronze medal encounter was decided when Orsic, from just inside the left edge of the penalty, opened his body up and curled an effort over Bono, off the post and over the goal-line.

Croatia dominated most of the second half and were unlucky not to get a penalty when Josko Gvardiol was brought down by Sofyan Amrabat, but Morocco's spearhead Youssef En-Nesyri also had two late chances to put the game into extra time.

In the first instance, he was denied by Dominik Livakovic from close range, and then deep into injury time, he could not keep down a header after a trademark prodigious leap from Yahia Attiyat Allah's cross.

What do Ashley Young, Nani, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere and Scott Parker have in common? They were all chosen in the midfield of the Premier League team of the year ahead of Luka Modric during his years at Tottenham (leaving out the 2009/10 season when he spent four months on the sidelines). Not too relevant to today maybe, but still striking given the 10 years the Croatian has put together since leaving White Hart Lane, in which he has built a resume leaving him on a pedestal only looking up at Zinedine Zidane amid modern midfielders.

Even more than his key role in five Champions League wins, his performances for Croatia, which saw him pick up the Golden Ball in the 2018 tournament, will live long in the memory. He hasn't been quite at his best in Qatar, possibly due to the sheer number of games he has played for club and country already in 2022 at the age of 37, but he still looks well capable of playing a leading part for his country in the European Championships in 19 months, if he decides to play on. It surely will be his final World Cup campaign, though, and this is enough of a milestone for Croatia's greatest ever player.

Ivan Perisic (Croatia) - He probably hasn't suited playing ahead of the ball for Croatia for most of the tournament but he was far better in a defensive role today. His aerial ability made him key in both areas, setting up his side's first goal and denying Morocco opportunities, and he also made key contributions crossing and linking play from the left flank.

Croatia: Livakovic 7; Stanisic 6, Sutalo 7, Gvardiol 7, Perisic 8*; Kovacic 6, Modric 7; Majer 7, Orsic 7; Kramaric 5, Livaja 6.

Subs: Vlasic 6, Pasalic 6, Petkovic 6, Jakic 6.

Morocco: Bono 6; Hakimi 7, Dari 7, El Yamiq 6, Attiat-Allah 6; Amrabat 6, El Khannous 6, Sabiri 6; Boufal 6, Ziyech 7; En-Neysri 6.

Subs: Chair 6, Ounahi 6, Zaroury 6, Benoun 6, Amallah 6.

7' GOAL FOR CROATIA! Gvardiol head Croatia into the lead. Major took a free kick 35 yards from goal and Periisc headed back into the centre of the goal and the centre back headed home with a flying header from eight yards out.

9' GOAL FOR MOROCCO! What a start to the game! Dari at the other end heads home after Ziyech's corner was erroneously flicked on by Modric and the defender all on his own scored from close range.

42' GOAL FOR CROATIA! Orsic puts Croatia back in front with a fantastic strike. From just inside the left edge of the penalty area he opens his body up and precisely curls the ball over Bono and into the goal off the post.

74' NO PENALTY! Gvardiol with a great run into the box and he looked set to go around the keeper when he fell under a challenge from Amrabat. No spot kick given. Croatia are hoping this gets reviewed.

75' EN-NESYRI DENIED BY LIVAKOVIC! The ball reaches the striker in the right hand side of the six-yard box but he is denied by a superb stop from the Croatian keeper.

90+4' EN-NESYRI ALMOST SENDS GAME TO EXTRA TIME! The Moroccan striker replicates his mammoth jump which got his team past Portugal but heads just over the bar.