Morocco have had an historic marketing campaign at this 12 months’s World Cup and are hoping for one final hurrah within the Third-place recreation.
Morocco might not have reached the World Cup remaining however gamers and supporters can take satisfaction in the truth that they performed seven video games in Qatar, a primary for any African nation, coach Walid Regragui stated on Friday.
The North Africans’ dream run on the World Cup ended after defeat by reigning champions France within the semifinals however they nonetheless have the chance to go away Qatar on a excessive once they tackle Croatia within the third-place playoff on Saturday.
Regragui stated he wouldn’t make too many adjustments to the squad as that may upset the workforce stability however admitted it was a troublesome and sophisticated recreation for 2 groups being requested to play after the frustration of shedding semifinal matches.
“I perceive it’s essential to complete third reasonably than fourth, however my takeaway is we didn’t attain the ultimate … We needed to play the ultimate on Sunday, not play tomorrow,” Regragui stated.
“However I instructed my gamers that is our seventh World Cup recreation. When you instructed any Morocco fan we’d be enjoying our seventh recreation on December 17, they’d be proud.
“Morocco performed six World Cup video games in 20-odd years and now we’ve performed six video games in a month – that is priceless. It’s as if we performed two World Cups or much more, that’s stunning from an expertise perspective.”
Regragui stated Croatia had been a formidable workforce even when that they had not been favoured to repeat their 2018 run, once they completed runners-up in Russia. Their goals had been crushed by Lionel Messi’s Argentina within the semifinal.
“We knew Croatia had been going to be the most effective groups within the competitors. After the primary recreation (the place Morocco and Croatia drew 0-0 within the group stage) we knew the efficiency was superb,” Regragui stated.
“There was lots of hesitation for the primary recreation … Each groups will wish to win it (on Saturday) and it will likely be an awesome recreation.”
The sport might be Croatian midfielder Luka Modric’s final with the nationwide workforce and Regragui praised the Actual Madrid man who remains to be going sturdy at 37.
“I don’t know if it’s Modric’s final recreation, he’s a aggressive warrior and can wish to end his World Cup in fashion,” Regragui stated. “Hats off to Modric. What he’s doing at 37 is monumental. He was a Ballon d’Or winner and I fully perceive why.”
