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CNN
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Your crew has simply misplaced within the semifinal at a World Cup. You’re understandably heartbroken, endlessly replaying the probabilities of what may need been.
After a month-long keep ends in a devastating defeat, you’re trying ahead to going again house to see household and buddies however, as a substitute, it’s a must to keep and play within the third-place playoff.
To many, it looks as if a largely pointless train. Does it actually matter which crew comes third or fourth? Nevertheless, there may be some glory available.
If coming third as a substitute of fourth isn’t sufficient incentive, the winner of the match may even get a bronze medal and a little more cash for his or her efforts – $27 million as a substitute of $25 million.
All however two World Cup tournaments in historical past – the primary version in 1930 after which once more in 1950 – have featured third-place playoffs and it may very well be considered as a pleasant option to finish your event on a excessive after a disappointing defeat.
The significance of the third-place playoff at every World Cup relies upon completely on the groups contesting them. 4 years in the past in Russia, England performed as if it couldn’t have cared much less for the match, whereas the likes of Uruguay in 2010, although shedding to Germany, and Croatia in 1998 had been actually significantly extra desperate to attempt to win.
This 12 months, in Morocco and Croatia, there are two groups which might be seemingly desperate to attempt to safe that bronze medal and $2 million additional for his or her respective federations.
Morocco’s gorgeous run to the semifinals, which noticed the Atlas Lions grow to be the primary African nation and Arab nation in historical past to achieve the final 4 of a World Cup, was ended by a 2-0 defeat to France on Wednesday.
The crew has been massively spectacular in Qatar, upsetting Belgium, Spain and Portugal because of its defensive group and attacking verve. Even within the second half of the loss to France, Morocco was largely the higher of the 2 groups and will have taken the match to additional time had been it not for an absence of high quality within the field.
After already making historical past, Morocco and head coach Walid Regragui will need to cement themselves additional into the report books by additionally changing into the primary African crew to complete third.
Croatia, in the meantime, fell a sport wanting reaching two successive World Cup finals after being outplayed and overpowered 3-0 by Argentina within the semifinals.
After taking part in extra-time and penalties in its earlier two rounds, Croatia’s gamers regarded understandably exhausted in opposition to the South People and had been outplayed from begin to end.
Captain Luka Modric will little question need to finish his worldwide profession on a excessive in what will likely be his final World Cup match and this group will need to safe its place as one of the best crew in Croatian historical past with second-place and third-place finishes consecutively, a exceptional achievement for a rustic with a inhabitants of lower than 4 million.
These two groups performed out a tense 0-0 draw of their opening sport of the group levels three weeks in the past and Saturday’s conflict will possible be simply as tight.
Saturday 10 a.m. ET on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium.
US: Fox Sports activities
UK: BBC or ITV
Australia: SBS
Brazil: SportTV
Germany: ARD, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom
Canada: Bell Media
South Africa: SABC
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