Didn’t want to go home empty-handed: Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic

Updated On: 19 December, 2022 08:08 AM IST | Doha | Ashwin Ferro

There were tears of joy all across the Croatian team as they celebrated with their wives and children on the Khalifa turf, happily posing for pictures and selfies

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Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic

Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic revealed that it was a “highly emotional night” after his gritty side conquered a spirited Morocco, backed by a 40,000-strong Arab-supporting crowd, 2-1 in the third-place match at the Khalifa Stadium on Saturday.

Young and scoring

The World Cup’s Young Player of the Year contender, Josko Gvardiol also became the youngest-ever goal-scorer for his country at a World Cup (20 years, 328 days), when he got to the end of a smartly executed free-kick as Croatia took the lead in the seventh minute. As they have done so often in this tournament, Morocco fought back and almost instantly Achraf Dari (ninth minute) made it 1-1. Croatia though had the final say when Mislav Orsic cutely curled one in from outside the box and over promising goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to ensure last edition’s runners-up clinched a bronze this time round.

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