​Croatia beat Morocco 2:1 and won the bronze medal at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. At the end of the game at the Khalifa International Stadium, coach Zlatko Dalic dedicated the result to the Croatian people.

Luka Modric and Zlatko Dalic, bronze CM 2022 in QatarPhoto: Tom Weller / DPA / Profimedia

Zlatko Dalich dedicated the world bronze medal to Miroslav Blazhevych

Dalić also recalled Miroslav Blažević, who achieved the same result in 1998 when Croatia beat the Netherlands in the minor final, also 2-1.

“It’s a bronze medal, but it has the sheen of gold. We won a difficult match, but it is something big, a medal for all of Croatia and for our people, for all those who follow us, who support us and who love us all over the world. Two championships, two medals, this is something fantastic! Congratulations to my players!

I would like to dedicate this medal, this victory to one person, Ciro Blazevic. Boss, this is yours, this is your medal. I can win five medals, but you are the coach of all coaches

Zlatko Dalich’s winning strategy: “I drove him crazy”

The Croatia coach also spoke about the attacking system used, 3-5-2, to which Morocco did not find the right answer.

“Few expected that it would be four guys from our domestic championship. Hats off to them! The players tried, gave their best, played for the result and got a reward. This bronze is our gold. Winning bronze in this type of competition is a plus. This is what our people deserve, and it is very rare that anyone can do it in four years.

Today, everyone who played was healthy and energetic. I tried a different tactic. They have a lot of problems on the right, Zieh can’t keep up with Perisic, and we took advantage of that. I really did. Orsich was great, we all gave our best, everything was good.

Our seventh game, win and we go home. It’s nice that we are returning home with a victory” – Zlatko Dalichquoted by CroatiaWeek.

Croatia finished 3rd at the 1998 and 2022 World Cups and finished second in 2018.

Croatia WC 2022 Qatar results

Group F: 0-0 against Morocco, 4-1 against Canada, 0-0 against Belgium

Optimal: 1-1 (1-1) against Japan, 3-1 on penalties

Quarters: 0-0 (1-1) against Brazil, 4-2 on penalties

Semifinals: 0-3 against Argentina

Small final: 2-1 against Morocco.