DOHA, Qatar (AP) — To some, it’s little greater than a meaningless exhibition match. To others, it’s an opportunity to turn into “immortal.”The third-place playoff on the World Cup is usually a complicated idea.“You’re so disillusioned, you’ve simply misplaced a semifinal after which two days later it’s a must to return on the market,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui mentioned Friday.Regragui’s history-making crew — the primary African nation to achieve the World Cup semifinals — will play Croatia on Saturday at Khalifa Worldwide Stadium.“It’s just like the booby prize,” Regragui mentioned. “I’m sorry for talking like this. I perceive that it ought to be necessary, I perceive that it’s higher to complete third than fourth, however for, me my takeaway is that we simply didn’t get to the ultimate.”Morocco’s run to the semifinals in Qatar offered probably the most inconceivable story of the match. The crew was additionally the primary Arab nation to go thus far in soccer’s largest occasion, producing an outpouring of satisfaction amongst Arab nations.After such a wild and dizzying experience, it’s comprehensible that Regragui sounded so flat when waiting for the match in opposition to Croatia. It’s additionally a measure of his personal ambition that he ends an unforgettable match for African soccer with a way of disappointment after being overwhelmed by defending champion France 2-0.“Sure, ending third could be nice for our picture. We’d be on the rostrum,” the coach mentioned. “However you understand what, even when we win the sport tomorrow we received’t have gotten to the ultimate and we received’t have received the World Cup.”The ambiance from the Croatian aspect has been extra upbeat.The runners-up from the final World Cup in Russia misplaced to Argentina 3-0 within the different semifinal match, however their gamers have spoken of the significance of profitable one other medal.Ahead Andrej Kramarić described it as the possibility to “turn into an immortal hero in your nation.”“Eight of us from (the match in) Russia perceive that feeling of profitable a medal on the World Cup and we now have a number of gamers who haven’t skilled that and would love to try this as a result of it’s one thing that may stick with you for the remainder of their life,” Kramarić mentioned.Luka Modric, who is probably going enjoying in his final World Cup, had related ideas.“We have to go away every little thing to win the bronze medal and let our followers have a good time yet another time,” he mentioned.To complete second and third in back-to-back World Cups would additional safe the legacy of a golden era for Croatia.“Saturday’s match is just not a small one for us, however an enormous remaining, a combat for third place, for a medal,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić mentioned. “We now have to organize in each sense. It’s an enormous factor if we take the bronze medal, that will be nice.“The distinction is being third or fourth on the earth, we’ll do every little thing to try this.”Morocco and Croatia have already performed one another at this 12 months’s World Cup, a 0-0 draw within the group stage.“We all know that Croatia obtained a number of stick as a result of they weren’t capable of beat Morocco,” Regragui mentioned. “Morocco was one of many underdogs and now we each reached the semifinals.”Injured Morocco heart again Romain Saiss, the crew’s captain, will miss the sport after lasting solely 21 minutes in opposition to France. Noussair Mazraoui, additionally substituted in that match, is a doubt.“We now have actually, actually pushed our gamers to the boundaries, however they nonetheless wish to exit tomorrow and play once more,” Regragui mentioned. “However we’re not going to be taking dangers tomorrow for a few of our gamers.”___James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson___AP World Cup protection: https://Fifanews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Morocco and Croatia play for third place at World Cup
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