Follow for all highlights from the FIFA World Cup third-place recreation between Morocco and Croatia.
Starting lineups!
Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic, Ivan Perisic, Lovro Majer, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Luka Modric, Marko Livaja, Mislav Orsic, Josko Gvardiol, Josip Sutalo
Morocco: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Jawad El Yamiq, Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech, Soufiane Boufal, Youssef En-Nesyri, Achraf Dari, Bilal El Khannouss, Yahya Attiat-Allah
PREVIEW
To some, it’s little greater than a meaningless exhibition match. To others, it’s an opportunity to change into “immortal.”
The third-place playoff on the World Cup is usually a complicated idea.
“You are so disappointed, you’ve just lost a semifinal and then two days later you have to go back out there,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui stated Friday.
Regragui’s history-making staff — the primary African nation to succeed in the World Cup semifinals — will play Croatia on Saturday at Khalifa International Stadium.
“It’s like the booby prize,” Regragui stated. “I am sorry for speaking like this. I understand that it should be important, I understand that it is better to finish third than fourth, but for, me my takeaway is that we just didn’t get to the final.”
Predicted lineups
Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Sutalo, Sosa; Modric, Jakic, Kovacic; Vlasic, Kramaric, Perisi
Morocco: Bono; Hakimi, El-Yamiq, Dari, Attiyat-Allah; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal
Morocco’s run to the semifinals in Qatar offered essentially the most unbelievable story of the match. The staff was additionally the primary Arab nation to go thus far in soccer’s largest occasion, producing an outpouring of satisfaction amongst Arab international locations.
After such a wild and dizzying trip, it’s comprehensible that Regragui sounded so flat when waiting for the match towards 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 crushed by defending champion France 2-0.
“Yes, finishing third would be great for our image. We would be on the podium,” the coach stated. “But you know what, even if we win the game tomorrow we won’t have got to the final and we won’t have won the World Cup.”
The ambiance from the Croatian facet 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.
Forward Andrej Kramarić described it as the prospect to “become an immortal hero in your country.”
“Eight of us from (the tournament in) Russia understand that feeling of winning a medal at the World Cup and we have a lot of players who haven’t experienced that and would love to do that because it’s something that will stay with you for the rest of their life,” Kramarić stated.
Luka Modric, who is probably going enjoying in his final World Cup, had comparable ideas.
“We need to leave everything to win the bronze medal and let our fans celebrate one more time,” he stated.
To end second and third in back-to-back World Cups would additional safe the legacy of a golden technology for Croatia.
“Saturday’s match is not a small one for us, but a big final, a fight for third place, for a medal,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić stated. “We have to prepare in every sense. It’s a big thing if we take the bronze medal, that would be great.
“The difference is being third or fourth in the world, we will do everything to do that.”
Morocco and Croatia have already performed one another at this 12 months’s World Cup, a 0-0 draw within the group stage.
Also Read | Morocco’s World Cup success boosts academy that produces expertise
“We know that Croatia got a lot of stick because they weren’t able to beat Morocco,” Regragui stated. “Morocco was one of the underdogs and now we both reached the semifinals.”
Injured Morocco middle again Romain Saiss, the staff’s captain, will miss the sport after lasting solely 21 minutes towards France. Noussair Mazraoui, additionally substituted in that match, is a doubt.
“We have really, really pushed our players to the limits, but they still want to go out tomorrow and play again,” Regragui stated. “But we are not going to be taking risks tomorrow for some of our players.”
-AP
When and the place to observe
When will the Croatia vs Morocco third place play-off match kick-off?
The Croatia vs Morocco third place play-off match will kick-off at 8:30 pm IST, December 17.
Where will the Croatia vs Morocco third place play-off match kick-off?
The Croatia vs Morocco third place play-off match will kick-off on the Khalifa International Stadium.
Where are you able to watch the Croatia vs Morocco third place play-off match in India?
The Croatia vs Morocco third place play-off match might be telecasted reside on Sports18 and Sports18 HD. On Android and properly as iOS, the 2022 FIFA World Cup might be reside streamed on JioCinema.
Where are you able to watch the Croatia vs Morocco third place play-off match outdoors India?
Argentina – Live Stream: Telemundo
United States – TV: FOX, Telemundo; Live Stream: fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada – TV: CTV, TSN; Live Stream: fuboTV, TSN app
United Kingdom – TV: BBC One; Live Stream: BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Website
Australia – TV: SBS; Live Stream: SBS On Demand
New Zealand – TV: Sky Sports; Live Stream: Sky Sport
Malaysia – TV: RTM, Astro; Live Stream: Astro Go
Singapore – TV: Mediacorp Channel 5; Live Stream: StarHub TV+, IPTV, Singtel TV
Hong Kong – TV: BeIN Sports, ITV; Live Stream: Now TV, ViuTV
Nigeria – TremendousSport and Showmax Pro.
