The achievement of winning third place is still big for Morocco and Croatia. Both teams are chasing important legacies to their football history.
By
M YUNIADHI AGUNG AND M IKHSAN MAHAR from Doha, Qatar
·4 minutes read
AFP/KARIM JAAFAR
Morocco's coach Walid Regragui gives a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) in Doha on December 16, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup third place football match between Croatia and Morocco.
DOHA, KOMPAS — Failing to go further for the top prize, Morocco and Croatia will pursue what is left for them to end the 2022 FIFA World Cup with dignity. They will meet each other in a match for third place on Saturday (17/12/2022) at 10 p.m. Western Time Zone (WIB) at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. After becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals, Morocco is looking to go one step further by winning a World Cup bronze medal, while Croatia is seeking to give a sweet farewell to its stellar captain, Luka Modric.
However, after the grueling semifinal matches, both teams look to face obstacles to perform optimally, having to cope with mental fatigue and injuries.
The 2-0 loss to France in the semifinals, which Morocco conceded early and failed to fight back, dealt a blow to the “Lions of Atlas.” While struggling to restore their mental condition, the team is facing the loss of two main players against Croatia. Team captain and center-back Romain Saiss and left-back Noussair Mazraoui will not be available due to injuries.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui, during a press conference ahead of the match in Doha, on Friday (16/12), conceded the players suffered mental fatigue due to the defeat to France, which left them in disappointment.
However, Regragui believes his squad will be able to forgo that loss when they take to the pitch on Saturday. Regragui, former coach of Wydad AC, was confident that the players would recover their fighting spirit in time to create history for the African team, which is to bring home a bronze medal from the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
”We see the many obstacles that come after the last defeat, but I'm sure all the players are aware about the importance of the game against Croatia. After failing to reach the final, our target is to end the competition with the highest possible position that we can achieve,” he said.
Being in the same group, Croatia and Morocco opened the World Cup by squaring each other in a goalless draw. Regragui, who was born in Corbeil-Essonnes, France, said his team would present a different game from the first match.
AFP/JACK GUEZ
Croatia's defender #06 Dejan Lovren listens to his team coach Zlatko Dalic (L) while taking part in a training session at Al Erssal Training Site 3 in Doha on December 15, 2022, ahead of their third place play-off match against Morocco on December 17 during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament.
Against France, Morocco appeared to be in the attack with 62 percent of ball possession. The figure far exceeds their average ball possession in their preceding five matches, which was at 33 percent.
Regragui plans to rotate a number of players to give opportunities to players who have rarely or never taken to the pitch in the previous six matches. He looked confident that the decision would not reduce the spark of the Moroccan game.
“Every player on the pitch knows what to do to perform optimally. I am optimistic that our second match with Croatia will present an appealing match to watch," said Regragui, who has won two Moroccan and Qatar Leagues.
While vying to become the first African team to finish third in the World Cup, Morocco has already established itself an elite club being the seventh team in World Cup history to concede a goal in five matches (before the match against France).
The other teams with such a record include the Netherlands (1974), Italy (1990), France (1980), Germany (2002), Italy (2006) and Spain (2010).
Modric’s swan song
Croatia is keen to give a beautiful farewell gift to Luka Modric, who will take on Morocco in his last World Cup match. It will be his 19th match, making him the player with the most appearances for the Croatian national team at the World Cup.
“We will try to give a positive impression for Luka's last game in the World Cup. Will he appear in the 2024 (European Cup)? Just wait for the decision," Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said.
In the semifinal match against Argentina, Modric was substituted in the 81st minute by Lovro Majer, with a large section of the 88,966 spectators in Lusail Stadium applauding the Real Madrid player as he was leaving the pitch.
Third place is a big achievement for a small country like Croatia. We will fight hard for the bronze medal.
Croatia, a runner-up at Russia 2018, is also facing injury problems with Marcelo Brozovic and Mario Pasalic likely to miss the Morocco match. They picked up injuries in the semifinal match. Dalic said his players also endured fatigue due to physically and mentally draining matches.
However, he said his team would try their utmost to put in their optimal performance, given that the third-place finish would still be a pride-provoking achievement for the country. Croatia won a bronze medal at the 1998 World Cup.
“Third place is a big achievement for a small country like Croatia. We will fight hard for the bronze medal,” Dalic said.
