To some, it's little more than a meaningless exhibition match. To others, it's a chance to become 바카라immortal.바카라 (More Football News)
The third-place playoff at the World Cup can be a confusing concept.
바카라You are so disappointed, you've just lost a semifinal and then two days later you have to go back out there,바카라 Morocco coach Walid Regragui said Friday.
Regragui's history-making team 바카라 the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals 바카라 will play Croatia on Saturday at Khalifa International Stadium.
바카라It's like the booby prize," Regragui said. 바카라I 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.바카라
Morocco's run to the semifinals in Qatar provided the most improbable story of the tournament. The team was also the first Arab nation to go so far in soccer's biggest event, generating an outpouring of pride among Arab countries.
After such a wild and dizzying ride, it's understandable that Regragui sounded so flat when looking ahead to the match against Croatia. It's also a measure of his own ambition that he ends an unforgettable tournament for African soccer with a sense of disappointment after being beaten by defending champion France 2-0.
바카라Yes, finishing third would be great for our image. We would be on the podium," the coach said. 바카라But 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.바카라
The atmosphere from the Croatian side has been more upbeat.
The runners-up from the last World Cup in Russia lost to Argentina 3-0 in the other semifinal match, but their players have spoken of the importance of winning another medal.
Forward Andrej Kramaric described it as the chance to 바카라become an immortal hero in your country."
바카라Eight 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,바카라 Kramaric said.
Luka Modric, who is likely playing in his last World Cup, had similar thoughts.
바카라We need to leave everything to win the bronze medal and let our fans celebrate one more time,바카라 he said.
To finish second and third in back-to-back World Cups would further secure the legacy of a golden generation for Croatia.
바카라Saturday's match is not a small one for us, but a big final, a fight for third place, for a medal," Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. "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.바카라
Morocco and Croatia have already played each other at this year's World Cup, a 0-0 draw in the group stage.
바카라We know that Croatia got a lot of stick because they weren't able to beat Morocco,바카라 Regragui said. 바카라Morocco was one of the underdogs and now we both reached the semifinals.바카라
Injured Morocco center-back Romain Saiss, the team's captain, will miss the game after lasting only 21 minutes against France. Noussair Mazraoui, also substituted in that match, is a doubt.
바카라We have really, really pushed our players to the limits, but they still want to go out tomorrow and play again," Regragui said. "But we are not going to be taking risks tomorrow for some of our players.바카라
