"Football Manager got it spot on" - Fans believe Croatia star is 'limitless' after shining in 2-1 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff win

Football fans have taken to social media to heap praise on Josko Gvardiol after he impressed in Croatia's 2-1 win over Morocco in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff.

Croatia were one of the biggest surprises of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, making their way into the final. They repeated the trick again in Qatar this year, earning a place among the last four of the tournament.

While Kockasti's World Cup dream ended after they lost to Argentina in the semi-finals, they finished the competition on a high. They notably beat Morocco 2-1 in their third-place playoff match on Saturday (December 17).

Starring in the match for Zlatko Dalic's side was Gvardiol, who was one of Croatia's best players throughout the tournament. The RB Leipzig defender opened the scoring for his side and also impressed at the back. Awed by the youngster, one fan wrote on Twitter:

Here are some more reactions to Gvardiol's impressive performance against Morocco in the FIFA World Cup third-place playoff match:

Gvardiol did not miss a single minute of action for Dalic's side during the FIFA World Cup. He found the back of the net once for the team and also helped them keep two clean sheets in seven matches.

Croatia's FIFA World Cup star Gvardiol is a wanted man

Gvardiol is widely regarded as one of the best up-and-coming defenders across Europe. The 20-year-old's performances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup have only seen his stock go up.

Chelsea were notably credited with an interest in signing him from Leipzig last summer. It appears more clubs are now entering the race to acquire his services next year.

According to reports, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United have made offers for Gvardiol. The Premier League giants are seemingly prepared to fork out a sum in excess of €90 million for him.

While Chelsea and Manchester United have offered €90 million and €95 million respectively, Manchester City are willing to go beyond that. They are ready to pay Leipzig a sum in excess of €100 million, including add-ons, for Gvardiol.

The centre-back, though, could still attract more transfer interest in the coming months. It thus remains to be seen what his future holds, but Leipzig are nevertheless in line to earn a significant amount of money.

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

Know More