Walid Regragui’s history-making team — the first African and Arab nation to reach the World Cup semi-final — will play Croatia at Khalifa International Stadium.
To some, it’s little more than a meaningless exhibition match. To others, it’s a chance to become “immortal.”
“You are so disappointed, you’ve just lost a semi-final, and then two days later, you have to go back out there,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui said on Friday.
Regragui’s history-making team — the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals — will play Croatia on Saturday at Khalifa International Stadium.
“It’s like the booby prize,” Regragui said. “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.”
Morocco’s run to the semi-final in Qatar provided the most improbable story of the tournament.
The team was also the first Arab nation to go so far in football’s biggest event, generating an outpouring of pride among Arab countries.
The group-stage game between Morocco and Croatia ended in a goalless draw.
Then Morocco defeated Belgium 2-0 and Canada 2-1 to top Group F.
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 football with a sense of disappointment after being beaten by defending champion France 2-0.
“Yes, finishing third would be great for our image. We would be on the podium,” the coach said. “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.”
Croatia more optimistic
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 “become an immortal hero in your country.”
Luka Modric, who is likely playing in his last World Cup, had similar thoughts.
“We need to leave everything to win the bronze medal and let our fans celebrate one more time,” he said.
To finish second and third in back-to-back World Cups would further secure the legacy of a golden generation 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 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.”
Saiss, Mazraoui could miss game
“We know that Croatia got a lot of stick because they weren’t able to beat Morocco,” Regragui said.
“Morocco was one of the underdogs, and now we both reached the semi-finals.”
Injured Morocco centre-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.
“We 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.”
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
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