Congratulations, Josip! The Croatian national team, including Bayern defender Josip Stanišić, triumphed 2-1 over Morocco on Saturday afternoon to secure third place at the World Cup in Qatar.
Right from the start at the Khalifa International Stadium, it was an attacking yet hard-fought contest. Joško Gvardiol headed Croatia in front from an elaborate free-kick routine in the seventh minute, but Morocco responded just two minutes later with Achraf Dari heading in the equaliser. The Europeans dominated the game after that but rarely got into dangerous positions. It was just before half-time that captain Luka Modric and his side regained the lead courtesy of a brilliant strike by Mislav Oršić. In the second half, Morocco pushed for another equaliser but the Croatians kept the North Africans' attack at bay.
Croatia continue run of World Cup success
Victory in the third place playoff means Croatia finish in a podium position at a World Cup for the third time. In 2018, Zlatko Dalić's side lost to France in the final in Moscow, and in 1998 they finished third for the first time.
Three Bayern players will be involved in Sunday's final:
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