Darius1998 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Preview Previous World Cup runners-up Croatia take on Africa's first semi-finalists in Morocco in today's third place play-off. Both sides started off in the same group, exceeded expectations and will now hope to put their semi-final disappointments behind them. After all, there are medals at stake and finishing 3rd is usually better than losing a final. Romain Saiss is definitely out while Marcelo Brozovic is a big doubt for Croatia. Past meetings This will be the third meeting between the sides. Croatia beat Morocco on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Hassan II Trophy in 1996 while their group meeting at this World Cup finished goalless. About third place play-offs None of the 19 previous third place games have gone to penalties. Only one has ever been to extra time - France vs Belgium in 1986 and European countries have won this on the last 10 occasions, including Croatia themselves (2-1 vs Netherlands in 1998). Last three games: 2010 - Uruguay 2-3 Germany 2014 - Brazil 0-3 Netherlands 2018 - Belgium 2-0 England No lineups yet obviously as kick off is still a few hours away so here are some stats instead: Ivan Perisic is Croatia's joint top scorer at World Cups with 6, level with Davor Suker. This will be Walid Regragui's 7th World Cup game, tying Aliou Cisse's record for an African coach. Morocco conceded more goals in the semis than they did in their past 5 World Cup games (1). Croatia conceded as many as they had in their past 5 games (3). Morocco could also become the eighth team to keep five clean sheets at a single tournament after Netherlands (1974), Italy (1990), Brazil (1994), France (1998), Germany (2002), Italy (2006) and Spain (2010). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coulthard's Jaw Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Hope this is a good game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArsenalFan7 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 As much as people love to go on about what a waste of time this is every year, this seems like a brilliant opportunity for Morocco to cement themselves as the best African side in WC history. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 I will have on in the background but I suspect I will be more focused on FM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthCoastRed Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 First one I’m going to miss entirely, not by planning, just busy today Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius1998 Posted December 17, 2022 Author Share Posted December 17, 2022 Lineups Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 I’ve opted out this year, gone to a non-league game instead. Pointless fixture. Croatian players hanging around since Tuesday night to play a match nobody will remember. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 1 minute ago, Rob1981 said: I’ve opted out this year, gone to a non-league game instead. Pointless fixture. Croatian players hanging around since Tuesday night to play a match nobody will remember. I don't think that's the case. Morocco will surely want a medal and we're not above it either, players will surely give their best. 3rd place playoffs are usually entertaining matches. Croatia's lineup is actually by far the most attacking one so far and will just cause frustration to the fans when they realize there was no need to be so turgid during the tournament. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Can't say I am particularly excited about this. Think it'll be as dull as their last meeting - just with 30 extra minutes, and then Croatia winning on penalties (as they always do). Hope I'm proven wrong, but I doubt it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnterUsernameHere Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Yeah. If me and Gunman are posting it, it's almost definitely a jinx, but this game usually delivers entertainment. Hopefully Morocco do it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArsenalFan7 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 It should be very enjoyable, it looks like there’s about 3.5 defensive minded players in that Croatia lineup Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lermon Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 well nothing else to do with ice everywhere. Better be more entertaining than watching ice melt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Of course the referee is Qatari. His second match of the tournament (after USA vs Wales). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Almost one of the most ridiculous moments in WC history. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Actually amazing set-piece. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Great FK routine Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryseaess Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 That's a great free kick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Geeat free-kick. Brilliant diving header from the man in the mask. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal_guitarist Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 That's some header Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dafuge Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 That's a great move Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryseaess Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 This game could be epic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Livaković is such a bad keeper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Wow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Great set piece that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 And now Morocco score! Goalless bore draw? Yeah, right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius1998 Posted December 17, 2022 Author Share Posted December 17, 2022 This is great fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArsenalFan7 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Everyone needs to remember this when they say this game is pointless Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnterUsernameHere Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 2 already. We did tell you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggiana Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 They're certainly not celebrating like it's meaningless, definitely see getting third as important Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Just put it on, wasn't expecting two goals in the first 10 minutes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1981 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 14 minutes ago, ArsenalFan7 said: Everyone needs to remember this when they say this game is pointless Loads of goals doesn’t mean the outcome isn’t pointless Always quite a high scoring game usually because teams usually both have a go and it’s not the end of the world if they lose. 2002, 2006 and 2010 third place games all had 4-5 goals iirc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArsenalFan7 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 But I think if you ask a lot of Croatians and Moroccans today that they’d tell you it isn’t pointless. And it’s fun, so I don’t get why people have an issue with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpain16 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Stanišić is by far the worst player in our roster. Useless as a FB and a liability as a CB. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 London slayer! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryseaess Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Wow, did he mean that?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CFuller Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 FM13 goal from Orsic! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Nice, subtle shot Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Quality finish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryseaess Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Just now, Harryseaess said: Wow, did he mean that?? Yeah he did, class finish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Just now, GunmaN1905 said: London slayer! Why did he not feature more? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpain16 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Trademark shot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 What a beauty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTHerringbone Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 That's probably one of my favourite goals of the tournament. Lovely stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpain16 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 1 minute ago, craigcwwe said: Why did he not feature more? Because Dalić likes his favourites. Oršić is a weapon. He had 2 assist in 20 minutes of WC gametime at one point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 1 minute ago, craigcwwe said: Why did he not feature more? Shares the position with Perišić, isn't as effective on the right. Still, as you can see from this game, this is why I dislike Dalić so much. If he had a chance to play the semi-final again, he would still insist on the same turgid setup and negative football. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_jagster Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 I feel like Bono could (maybe should) have still saved it, he doesn't really jump much when diving or it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigcwwe Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Just seen Gvardiol's goal. That's a class diving header don't see too many of those these days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firehouse Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 This game is pointless if you are England, Germany, etc. Its not exactly pointless if you are Morroco or Croatia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunmaN1905 Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Just now, Firehouse said: This game is pointless if you are England, Germany, etc. You can't put England and Germany in the same sentence, with all due respect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firehouse Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Well England should be as successful as Germany, but you get the point 😄 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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