Croatia secure their joint second-best finish at a World Cup in third place. Morocco had already made history, and this is the best finish by an African side in the history of the competition.

This is how  Morroco ended their world cup dream by finishing as the best African side for the prestigious tournament.

Having been the first African team to reach the semi-final stage of the world cup, is going home with its head held up after running Croatia close before Mislav Orsic's 42nd-minute goal in the first half decided that Croatia occupies the 3rd position of the world's largest football tournament.

Croatia beat Morroco 2-1 in the world cup third-place playoff on Saturday to secure a top-three finish in the tournament as Morroco came forth.

Josko Gvardiol put Croatia in front after a well-designed set piece play. Lovro Majer lobbed a free-kick to Ivan Perisic who peeled away from his marker to head the ball to the middle of the box where Gvardiol perfectly positioned to nod the ball into the net with a diving header.

Morroco restored parity in just two minutes from a free kick, as Croatia's Majer tried to clear the ball but miscalculated his header and missed the ball setting up Mortoco Achraf Dari to send home a close-range header.

Croatia scored the winning goal three minutes to end the first half through Mislav Orsic with a curled shot from just inside the area that went in off the post

Author: Eric Murphy Asare