Croatia-Morocco is the final for third and fourth place at the 2022 World Cup and is played on Saturday at 16:00: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
This time it’s not the usual catchphrase: however it goes, Qatar 2022 will forever be remembered by Croatia and Morocco as a great success. Especially by Walid Regragui’s selection, the first in history to bring the African continent – and the Arab world – to play in a World Cup semi-final. Disappointment yes, but in this case very limited.
And the so-called ‘final’ between the disgruntled players to decide the third and fourth place, the one that offers the reward of the bronze medal, although it has an almost purely statistical value – even economically it does not change much, just a couple of million dollars difference – can become the right recognition for two national teams that in this World Cup have gone beyond all expectations.
And who have made their respective nations proud, beyond their respective semi-final defeats to France and Argentina, two objectively superior national teams. At the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan there will therefore be room for a hint of regret but not sadness, as has been the case in other editions. A state of mind that could pave the way for an entertaining, proactive and at times even spectacular match, between two teams that will almost certainly face each other openly without paying too much attention to tactics. After all, since 1982 the final for third and fourth place has hardly ever disappointed in terms of emotions: at least four goals have always been scored on six out of ten occasions. One of the least eventful, strange to say, was last year’s, with Belgium winning 2-0 over England.
Without forgetting that this Croatia-Morocco will be one of the rare cases of a ‘repeat’. The two teams were drawn in the same group and met on the very first day of the group stage, which ended in a tight 0-0 draw.
Croatia could do no more
Croatia have very little to reproach themselves with. For Zlatko Dalic’s chequered selection it seemed almost impossible to repeat the feat achieved four years ago, when they achieved their best ever finish at an Olympic Games by reaching the final in Moscow against France.
Lovren, Modric and Kramaric
The squad, at least on paper, looked weaker than in 2018. Perhaps more experienced but too dependent on a 37-year-old Modric and without a striker worthy of the name. Many, however, had underestimated the impeccable defensive organisation of the Croatian national team, which until the match against Argentina had only conceded three goals and had been able to harness Brazil, eliminated after penalty kicks.
Against Messi and his teammates, however, Croatia – despite having played perhaps their best game in terms of play – committed some blatant mistakes in the non-possession phase, which cost them dearly. And, unlike against Brazil a few days earlier, it melted away like snow in the sun (3-0) after going into a first-half deficit, falling into the trap set for it by Scaloni’s troops.
The epicness of the Moroccan feat
If in Croatia-Argentina there was only a game in the first half-hour, Morocco had the great merit of keeping the highly favoured France with bated breath until the last minutes of the match. Paradoxically, the North Africans also ended up losing the only match in which they played better with the ball between their feet. It was an obligatory scenario, considering that the match was immediately on the right track for the transalpines, who took the lead after just four minutes. There Morocco could well have capitulated, having never had to chase since the World Cup began. But they held on anyway, repeatedly coming close to scoring the equalizer.
What was said for Dalic also applies to Regragui and his Atlas Lions, who can leave Qatar with a smile on their faces. And with the knowledge that they have done something epic, that they have contributed to writing one of the most beautiful fairytales in the history of world championships.
Croatia-Morocco: latest line-up news
Croatia’s Brozovic, who came off after fifty minutes in the semi-final against Argentina, is heavily in doubt. The Inter midfielder is not at his best and should be replaced by one of Majer or Jakic. Dalic has already hinted that he will not risk any player who is not 100 per cent, and it cannot be ruled out that in defence Sutalo will take the place of Gvardiol, who took the field last Tuesday thanks to infiltrations. In attack, Vlasic and Perisic should play behind Kramaric.
Morocco, as against France, are struggling with a re-strengthened defence. Saiss, who appeared exhausted on Wednesday, is unlikely to be risked, but Aguerd and Mazraoui could also be on the bench. Regragui is therefore set to revolutionise the defence: along with Hakimi, there will be room for second-liners El-Yamiq, Dari and Attiyat-Allah.
The prediction
The two teams are very likely to depart from the scoreline they have followed so far, adopting a more proactive attitude. Nothing to do with the previous game on 23 November, when we witnessed a very tense and tight contest. The tension will not be the same as in recent matches, and that is why we expect an open match, with at least one goal on each side and more than two overall. Croatia certainly has something more on a technical level, but in our opinion it will be Morocco who will have more motivation. A victory for the Lions of the Atlas would not be a surprise.
Croatia v Morocco
likely line-ups
- CROATIA (4-3-2-1): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Sutalo, Sosa; Modric, Majer, Kovacic; Vlasic, Perisic; Kramaric.
- MAROCCO (4-3-3): Bono; Hakimi, El-Yamiq, Dari, Attiyat-Allah; Ounahi, Amrabat, Amallah; Ziyech, En-Nesyri, Boufal.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
