Croatia and Morocco will look to leave Qatar on a high note when they play for third place on Saturday. Croatia and Morocco win bronze after World Cup disappointment. Also, Croatia and Morocco couldn’t beat Argentina and France to reach the final despite defying pre-tournament odds. Walid Regragui’s fearless squad became the first African team to reach the quarterfinals.
Croatia and Morocco win bronze after World Cup disappointment
They will be welcomed home as heroes regardless of the result, having earned respect and support of the continent and Arab world and neutral fans who love an underdog story. After a 0-0 draw in their group opener, Croatia and Morocco will meet again in Qatar, just as Belgium and England did in 2018.
A second straight final seemed unlikely when Croatia won just one group game. Two penalty shootout wins over Japan, and Brazil earned them a semi-final match against Argentina, where Lionel Messi destroyed them.
“Before the tournament, we all would have settled for the semi-finals. We began to imagine the trophy, “Lovro Majer said.
“Saturday, we’ll give it our all to win bronze.” Coach Zlatko Dalic confirmed most of Croatia’s golden generation wouldn’t play in the next World Cup.
“I advised the players to keep their heads up, be proud of delivering their maximum, and be ready,” Dalic said.
“Our boys are blameless, and I congratulate them on the World Cup. Now we must rise, dust ourselves off, and win bronze.”
