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Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Luka Modric of Croatia
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Matchday 22 as it happened: Croatia, Morocco meet in third-place play-off
Join us for Matchday 22 as we bring you the key moments and highlights from today's FIFA World Cup fixture.
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Luka Modric of Croatia
Published 18 December 2022 1:46am
By SBS Sport
Source: SBS
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FT - Croatia finish third!
The Vatreni have secured third place in the World Cup after defeating Morocco 2-1 in Al-Rayyan.
You can watch the replay, mini match and highlights from this fixture via our dedicated match hub, here:
Thanks for following our live blog - we'll be back for the final tomorrow!
The Vatreni have secured third place in the World Cup after defeating Morocco 2-1 in Al-Rayyan.
You can watch the replay, mini match and highlights from this fixture via our dedicated match hub, here:
Thanks for following our live blog - we'll be back for the final tomorrow!
Second half starts
46' - Morocco begin second half
The African nation restart proceedings looking to restore parity.
The African nation restart proceedings looking to restore parity.
Half-time whistle blows
HT - The referee calls an end to the first half
The players head for the tunnel after an entertaining 45 minutes in Al-Rayyan.
The players head for the tunnel after an entertaining 45 minutes in Al-Rayyan.
Orsic scores
42' - Beautiful effort!
Marko Livaja draws two defenders and lays it off to Mislav Orsic who bends a beautiful strike in off the post!
Marko Livaja draws two defenders and lays it off to Mislav Orsic who bends a beautiful strike in off the post!
Dari scores
9' - Morocco equalise!
Morocco's free-kick deflects off the head of Lovro Majer and into the path of Achraf Dari, who is able to guide the ball beyond Dominik Livakovic.
Morocco's free-kick deflects off the head of Lovro Majer and into the path of Achraf Dari, who is able to guide the ball beyond Dominik Livakovic.
Gvardiol scores
7' - What a start for Croatia!
A perfect set-piece routine sees Ivan Perisic's flick-on find Josko Gvardiol, who buries his header past Yassine Bounou!
A perfect set-piece routine sees Ivan Perisic's flick-on find Josko Gvardiol, who buries his header past Yassine Bounou!
First half under way
1' - Kick-off
We are underway with the start of the first half at Khalifa International Stadium.
We are underway with the start of the first half at Khalifa International Stadium.
Head-to-Head: Croatia v Morocco
· Croatia and Morocco also met in their Group F opening fixture of this World Cup: 0-0 in Al Bayt on 23 November. There were no shot attempts in this game after the 65th minute.
· Luka Modric became the first Croatia player to make an appearance for them at four World Cups in the 0-0 draw versus Morocco.
· This is the second time two teams meet in the match for third/fourth place after they have also met in the group phase of the same World Cup. The first occasion was Belgium vs England in 2018 (Belgium won 1-0 in the group stage and 2-0 in the match for bronze).
· The only other fixture between Croatia and Morocco took place in the semi-finals of the 1996 King Hassan II International Cup (inaugural edition), a four-team tournament held in Casablanca in December 1996 (the other two teams were Czechia and Nigeria). Croatia beat the hosts in a penalty shootout (7-6) in front of 80,000 spectators, after a 2-2 score in regular time.
· Goran Vlaovic (14', 15') gave Croatia a 2-0 lead on 11 December 1996. Salaheddine Bassir (22') and Ahmed Bahja (72') scored for Morocco. Goalkeeper Abdelkader El Brazi missed the deciding penalty in the shootout (Morocco's 10th spot kick).
· Both nations received a red card in that game. Bouyboud Mjid (Morocco) and Aljosa Asanovic (Croatia) were sent off in the 40th minute. Croatia's Robert Prosinecki (70') was also shown red in the second half.
· Croatia are unbeaten against African opposition at the World Cup (W2-D1-L0) and kept a clean sheet in all three matches: 4-0 vs Cameroon (2014), 2-0 vs Nigeria (2018), 0-0 vs Morocco (2022).
· Morocco have a W2-D2-L1 record against UEFA opposition at the 2022 World Cup. They were the victors on three occasions in total (progressed vs Spain after penalties). The only team from outside Europe or South America to win/progress four times against UEFA opposition at a single World Cup was Korea Republic in 2002 (W3-D1-L2). Korea also progressed after a penalty shootout against Spain at that World Cup.
· Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Noussair Mazraoui and Josip Stanisic (FC Bayern München), and Abde Ezzalzouli and Ante Budimir (CA Osasuna) are club teammates who could be in opposition when Morocco face Croatia.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Luka Modric became the first Croatia player to make an appearance for them at four World Cups in the 0-0 draw versus Morocco.
· This is the second time two teams meet in the match for third/fourth place after they have also met in the group phase of the same World Cup. The first occasion was Belgium vs England in 2018 (Belgium won 1-0 in the group stage and 2-0 in the match for bronze).
· The only other fixture between Croatia and Morocco took place in the semi-finals of the 1996 King Hassan II International Cup (inaugural edition), a four-team tournament held in Casablanca in December 1996 (the other two teams were Czechia and Nigeria). Croatia beat the hosts in a penalty shootout (7-6) in front of 80,000 spectators, after a 2-2 score in regular time.
· Goran Vlaovic (14', 15') gave Croatia a 2-0 lead on 11 December 1996. Salaheddine Bassir (22') and Ahmed Bahja (72') scored for Morocco. Goalkeeper Abdelkader El Brazi missed the deciding penalty in the shootout (Morocco's 10th spot kick).
· Both nations received a red card in that game. Bouyboud Mjid (Morocco) and Aljosa Asanovic (Croatia) were sent off in the 40th minute. Croatia's Robert Prosinecki (70') was also shown red in the second half.
· Croatia are unbeaten against African opposition at the World Cup (W2-D1-L0) and kept a clean sheet in all three matches: 4-0 vs Cameroon (2014), 2-0 vs Nigeria (2018), 0-0 vs Morocco (2022).
· Morocco have a W2-D2-L1 record against UEFA opposition at the 2022 World Cup. They were the victors on three occasions in total (progressed vs Spain after penalties). The only team from outside Europe or South America to win/progress four times against UEFA opposition at a single World Cup was Korea Republic in 2002 (W3-D1-L2). Korea also progressed after a penalty shootout against Spain at that World Cup.
· Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Noussair Mazraoui and Josip Stanisic (FC Bayern München), and Abde Ezzalzouli and Ante Budimir (CA Osasuna) are club teammates who could be in opposition when Morocco face Croatia.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Morocco Stats
· Morocco will finish third or fourth, this is already the best result for an African team at the World Cup.
· Morocco won the African Cup of Nations in 1976 and finished as runners-up in 2004. They took third place in 1980 and were fourth in 1986 and 1988.
· The match for third/fourth place has been won by a UEFA team on 16 of the 19 occasions. The other wins were by Brazil (1938, 1978) and Chile (1962).
· Morocco (W5-D7-L10) can equal Nigeria on six wins at the World Cup, most for an African team. Note: matches decided through a penalty shootout are classed as draws.
· Morocco have been trailing in only one match at this World Cup, against France in the semi-finals. Croatia have been trailing in four games, most of all teams.
· In the round of last 16 (versus Spain), Morocco became the first African team to win a World Cup penalty shootout. Spain missed all three of their spot-kicks (two saved by Bono, one hit the post). Only Badr Benoun missed for Morocco in that shootout.
· In World Cup history, the match for third/fourth place has never ended in a penalty shootout.
· Morocco's 2-0 defeat against France in the semi-finals on 14 December was their first loss under coach Walid Regragui (W5-D3-L1, match decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw). France's Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani were the first opposition players who scored against them in this run (the only other goal they conceded in that run was an own goal by Nayef Aguerd versus Canada).
· Walid Regragui (6) will equal Senegal's Aliou Cissé (7) as African coach on most World Cup matches.
· Regragui won the African Champions League as manager of Wydad Athletic Club in 2021/22.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Morocco won the African Cup of Nations in 1976 and finished as runners-up in 2004. They took third place in 1980 and were fourth in 1986 and 1988.
· The match for third/fourth place has been won by a UEFA team on 16 of the 19 occasions. The other wins were by Brazil (1938, 1978) and Chile (1962).
· Morocco (W5-D7-L10) can equal Nigeria on six wins at the World Cup, most for an African team. Note: matches decided through a penalty shootout are classed as draws.
· Morocco have been trailing in only one match at this World Cup, against France in the semi-finals. Croatia have been trailing in four games, most of all teams.
· In the round of last 16 (versus Spain), Morocco became the first African team to win a World Cup penalty shootout. Spain missed all three of their spot-kicks (two saved by Bono, one hit the post). Only Badr Benoun missed for Morocco in that shootout.
· In World Cup history, the match for third/fourth place has never ended in a penalty shootout.
· Morocco's 2-0 defeat against France in the semi-finals on 14 December was their first loss under coach Walid Regragui (W5-D3-L1, match decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw). France's Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani were the first opposition players who scored against them in this run (the only other goal they conceded in that run was an own goal by Nayef Aguerd versus Canada).
· Walid Regragui (6) will equal Senegal's Aliou Cissé (7) as African coach on most World Cup matches.
· Regragui won the African Champions League as manager of Wydad Athletic Club in 2021/22.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Croatia Stats
· This is Croatia's sixth World Cup and they can finish on the podium for the third time: third in 1998 and runners-up in 2018. They had finished third in their group in their other three campaigns.
· Croatia won the match for third in 1998 2-1 against Netherlands. Robert Prosinecki and Davor Šuker scored for the Croats. It was Šuker's sixth goal of the tournament which made him the top scorer of the 1998 World Cup.
· Croatia lost only two of their last 22 matches (W12-D8-L2, games decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw), a 3-0 Nations League defeat versus Austria in Osijek on 3 June 2022 and the 3-0 loss against Argentina in the semi-finals of this World Cup.
· Croatia have won two of their last 10 World Cup matches (W2-D6-L2, games decided by a penalty shootout are classed as a draw), including only one after 90 minutes (4-1 vs Canada in this year's group stage).
· Of Croatia's last 10 knockout matches at major tournaments (World Cup/EUROs), eight went to extra time. The exceptions were the 4-2 defeat versus France in the 2018 World Cup final and the 3-0 loss in the semi-finals against Argentina in this year's World Cup.
· Croatia did not score the opening goal in any of their last 10 World Cup games (conceded the opening goal eight times and drew 0-0 twice).
· Croatian (W1-D4-L1) have been leading for only 47 minutes at this World Cup and in just one match: the 4-1 win versus Canada in the group phase.
· Croatia have been trailing in four of their six matches at this World Cup.
· Croatia have won all four of their World Cup penalty shootouts. Only Argentina (5 from 6) and (West) Germany (4 from 4) have won as many World Cup penalty shootouts as Croatia (4 from 4).
· Croatia can become the first team to be involved in as many as three penalty shootouts at a single World Cup.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Croatia won the match for third in 1998 2-1 against Netherlands. Robert Prosinecki and Davor Šuker scored for the Croats. It was Šuker's sixth goal of the tournament which made him the top scorer of the 1998 World Cup.
· Croatia lost only two of their last 22 matches (W12-D8-L2, games decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw), a 3-0 Nations League defeat versus Austria in Osijek on 3 June 2022 and the 3-0 loss against Argentina in the semi-finals of this World Cup.
· Croatia have won two of their last 10 World Cup matches (W2-D6-L2, games decided by a penalty shootout are classed as a draw), including only one after 90 minutes (4-1 vs Canada in this year's group stage).
· Of Croatia's last 10 knockout matches at major tournaments (World Cup/EUROs), eight went to extra time. The exceptions were the 4-2 defeat versus France in the 2018 World Cup final and the 3-0 loss in the semi-finals against Argentina in this year's World Cup.
· Croatia did not score the opening goal in any of their last 10 World Cup games (conceded the opening goal eight times and drew 0-0 twice).
· Croatian (W1-D4-L1) have been leading for only 47 minutes at this World Cup and in just one match: the 4-1 win versus Canada in the group phase.
· Croatia have been trailing in four of their six matches at this World Cup.
· Croatia have won all four of their World Cup penalty shootouts. Only Argentina (5 from 6) and (West) Germany (4 from 4) have won as many World Cup penalty shootouts as Croatia (4 from 4).
· Croatia can become the first team to be involved in as many as three penalty shootouts at a single World Cup.
Courtesy of Gracenote
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