Gvardiol, key to another Croatian ‘miracle’

Josko Gvardiol was the star of this World Cup until the endfor many the defender of Qatar 2022 and who certainly contributed this Saturday in Croatia, which defeated Morocco, qualified for third, four years after their runner-up in Russia 2018. Another ‘miracle’ of football for in a country with less than four million inhabitants.

Gvardiol, the defender of Leipzig, did not only shine, as usual, for his good defensive decisions., but in the so-called ‘consolation final’ they also advanced to Croatia with their goal against Morocco in the 7′. He led a new generation that, together with the survivors of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the historic Modric, Perisic, Kovacic or Lovren, led Croatia to third place in the world. A new work.

Achraf Dari leveled on 9′, but Mislav Orsic made it 2-1, the win for Zlatko Dalic’s men. This third place in Croatia had a lot of emotional components. Although it is not confirmed, this could be the last game of a legend like Luka Modric, always the leader, in a World Cup.

Croatia in all of them, the historical ones and the new generation led by Gvardiol, left the World Cup in the quarterfinals by none other than Brazil, who dreamed of achieving the six-time championship in Qatar. Dominik Livakovic, goalkeeper for the Croatian team, was the hero when he stopped Rodrygo’s shot.

Gvardiol, the perfect modern defender, who moved to a team with the security of his imprint, is only 20 years old but leaves this World Cup as one of the most anticipated players. Despite playing with Leo Messi. Romelu Lukaku will never forget how he prevented the Leipzig defender from scoring at a discount on the final day of the group stage, when a 0-0 final knocked out Belgium and qualified Croatia for the round of 16. In the end, he ran Gvardiol to hug his mother and cry. This Saturday he scored a goal against Morocco. Croatia finished third, as in the 1998 World Cup in France.