World Cup: 3rd Place Playoff

What a fantastic finish from Orsic to put Croatia ahead!

Love goals like that, lifted over the keeper, going in off the far post... Brilliant!!!

Yep,

One of my favorite all time goals was when Davor Suker lifted the ball over Peter Schmeichel's head in a game against Denmark. The Great Dane reached as high as he could, but it was beautifully flighted.

Must be a Croatian thing!

Gvardiol brilliant both ends of the pitch there.

Twenty? No lighthouse this fella

BTW; If that's not a penalty, what is?

I mentioned Gvardiol earlier in the competition. Twenty years old and playing like an accomplished, experienced 30 year-old centre back. And one as dangerous in the opposition penalty box as he was as effective at defending. Oh to have centre backs playing and encouraging the team to play on the front foot.

He can play left back too, so could probably fit into a 3. Just an unrealistic thought. At RB Leipzig and on the back of a good World Cup, way out of our reach. And we have other areas of concern.

His partner, the number 24, Sutalo looked very good. Comfortable on the ball as he was defending. The keeper Livakovic has impressed too, should Jordan have had his ear bent or our so-called leadership wishes to cash in. Both are at Zagreb, but I suspect the big cats will come calling.

Both of these teams have had a great competition. It's why they're in the 3rd/4th place play off. Okay, it's meaningless and no-one wants to be in it, but they've both entertained.

The 37 year old Modric is reminding me in a lot of ways of Pirlo. He doesn't need to run around. He knows where the game is, knows where the ball is going next and reads the game almost perfectly.

What a shame we won't get to see him on this stage again.

A former Everton player written off by many at a young age making an appearance at this stage of the World Cup in one of the best teams in the competition.

Hats off to Croatia. A 3rd place finish 4 years after making the final. Not bad for a nation with a population of 3.8 million.

Great to see Modric calling the kids forward to join in the singing.

Danny (4)Another great performance from Modric,although I only saw the second half he was brilliant for me,seems to attract the ball like magnet and uses it mostly going forward and usually to one of his team mates in space,a pleasure to watch.

The player of the tournament for me with his consistent performances over the whole game,not just in short spells.

I posted on here when Rio Ferdinand said Gvardiol was world class before a Croatian had kicked a ball.

I googled him straight away and found he was only 20 years old. I thought it was a bold call but, having watched every game since, I have to say Ferdinand knew something the rest of us didn't. We hadn't even heard of him.

Messi took him on the waltzers a couple of times, but he has been foot-perfect beside that.

Ferdinand also said he would be playing his football in Madrid next year.

At last. A pundit ITK who can tell you something you didn't already know!

Hats off to both teams for not playing in the usual manner of the 3rd/4th place deciders.

Croatia and Morocco.

Two teams where technical accomplishment overrides the modern day clamour for pace without a football brain.

If we are looking at anybody, then maybe it should be the Moroccan coach as it has been said that, before the World Cup Finals, he had only 8 games (however long that is) with the team.

While there are more than a few weaknesses, if he can get that sort of organization and effort from them, then maybe he might be worth considering if ever the magic roundabout starts churning again.