Morocco’s 2-0 defeat to France at the Al Bayt Stadium means the Atlas Lions will take on fellow semi-finalist Croatia in the Qatar World Cup’s third place play-off this weekend.
Inspired by another jet-heeled Kylian Mbappe display, Didier Deschamps Les Bleus ensured that they will have the chance to retain their crown against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in Sunday’s decider at the Lusail.
AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez opened the scoring with a fine volley early on – the first goal Morocco have conceded from an opposition player throughout the tournament – before Randal Kolo Muani came off the bench to tap home the decider.
When is the World Cup’s third place play-off and where can I watch it?
Walid Regragui’s surprise packages, however, can still secure a place on the podium. The Atlas Lions will go head-to-head this Saturday with a Croatia team who were swatted aside by a mercurial Messi and the lethal Julian Alvarez earlier in the week.
The two sides will go head-to-head at 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Exactly 24 hours before the big one gets underway. Morocco vs Croatia will be shown live on BBC for UK viewers, and can also be caught via the iPlayer.
Who are the favourites?
It’s not easy to separate two teams who defeated so-called bigger opposition en route to the last-four. Morocco knocked out both Portugal and Spain before France proved to be a step too far. Croatia, meanwhile, defeated pre-tournament favourites Brazil on penalties.
Morocco and Croatia have already met in the 2022 World Cup too. Fittingly, the game ended 0-0; two sides renowned for their resolute defending playing out a goalless draw on matchday one.
History of the third place play-off
The third place play-off is often a rather maligned fixture. Unsurprisingly maybe, given that the teams involved come into it having suffered semi-final heartbreak just a few days earlier. Gareth Southgate’s England, for instance, saw an otherwise excellent World Cup campaign end with a whimper back in 2018; beaten by Belgium in the third place play-off after being denied the chance to take on France in Moscow.
The Netherlands thrashed Brazil 3-0 in 2014, while Germany finished third both in 2010 and 2006. In fact, no team has taken home the proverbial bronze medal more times than Germany (four). Chile, Sweden, the USA and Turkey are among the more surprising third-place finishers over the years.
Should Morocco beat Croatia this weekend, they will at least become the first African team in World Cup history ever to land a podium finish. Not the prize they were dreaming of, of course, but a nice consolation nonetheless.
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