Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 and win bronze in Qatar 2022

Croatia swept Morocco 2-1 on Saturday in the penultimate game of the World Cup,

.

The Moroccan team, the great surprise of Qatar 2022, filled their country and Africa with pride after reaching the semifinals, but the dream of finishing in the top three vanished after just over 90 minutes of play.

Croatia and Morocco had shared Group F at the start of the World Cup.

Sunday will be the grand final when

play the World Cup, at 10:00 am (Eastern time).

You can watch the game on 

 and 

.

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Aug 1 / 7:19 PM UTC

Morocco, a selection for history

The Moroccan team said goodbye to the World Cup this Saturday with two defeats, against France and Croatia, but that cannot overshadow their four victories (against Belgium, Canada, Spain and Portugal).

Achraf Hakimi, defender of the Moroccan national team, expressed this Saturday the pride and satisfaction of the entire team for having achieved "something historic" for the country and for Africa.

“We wanted to get third place to give our fans joy after a great journey we have made, such as reaching the semifinals and playing third and fourth place.

We have to be happy and proud.

We could not give him this last victory, but we are going with our heads held high, ”he explained.

“This is not only from Morocco, it is from a continent and an entire country supporting us.

We have put a continent up high, a flag held high and we are proud of the work and all the progress we have made”, added the Paris Saint Germain full-back, who described the fourth position as “something historic”.

“All the players deserve a great reception.

In Morocco they are super happy and super proud.

It is not easy to reach the semifinals.

There are great teams that have not been there ”, he added.

He also explained that this performance gives them "energy" for the Africa Cup.

"We are going with a lot of motivation and a lot of confidence, after what we have achieved now", 

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Aug 1 / 6:51 PM UTC

Modrić says this "may be" his last World Cup

Luka Modrić, midfielder for the Croatian national team, explained this Saturday, after finishing in third position in the 2022 World Cup, that

his last World Cup, although he did not confirm that it is, and expressed his desire to "continue" in his national team “at least until the League of Nations”.

“In the future we will see what happens.

At least I want to continue until the League of Nations and then we'll see," he told the World Goal outlet after the 2-1 win against Morocco at the Khalifa stadium in Qatar.

Luka Modrić celebrates with his bronze medal.LEE SMITH / REUTERS

The Final Four of the League of Nations will be held next June in the Netherlands.

“

I am very happy for my entire career in Croatia.

Having won two medals is something very important, I wanted to win the Cup, that was my dream, it couldn't be, but I'm also very happy with the two medals”, he assessed.

Third place “means a lot” to his team.

“Winning two medals in two World Cups is something very, very important and very big for Croatia.

You can no longer talk about Croatia as a team that does something every 20 years.

With the last World Cup and with this one we have put Croatia on the map of great teams”, he added.

"We are very happy.

We wanted to be in the final, we couldn't, but we traveled home as winners, which is also very important”, she added.

With information from Efe.

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Aug 1 / 6:30 PM UTC

An Argentine and a Frenchman delay their wedding in Miami to see the final

A couple from Miami made up of an Argentine and a French man have delayed their wedding for a few hours so that they and their guests can see the final of the world soccer championship in Qatar that will be played by the teams of Argentina and France.

As reported this Saturday by the Local 10 channel, when Bárbara Chayo and Kevin Abadi scheduled their wedding for December 18, they had no idea that the teams from their countries would be the protagonists of the Cup final.

The time of the link, as if that were not enough, coincided with that of the game, so they decided to delay the ceremony and when they get married it will be known which of the two teams won the cup.

Chayo told the aforementioned outlet that when the wedding date was decided, her fiancé told her that the world championship final would be played that day and they both thought about changing it, but decided they would not because they did not know then who would fight for the title.

When it became known that it would be Argentina and France, Abadi, born in Marseille, told his girlfriend:

Abadi said that he is very nervous and that 95% of his anxiety is for Sunday's game and 5% for his link.

Chayo does not seem to care: "Love is above all else, you love me and that is what matters," he stressed.

With information from Efe.

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Aug 1 / 6:06 PM UTC

"I leave with a great taste in my mouth": says the Moroccan goalkeeper

Despite not having won the bronze medal after losing 2-1 against Croatia, the Moroccan goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, better known as Bono, did not appear crestfallen.

"I leave with a great taste in my mouth. Always, the greatest prize is to feel happiness when you go out to compete. Another thing does not depend on you," Bono said at the end of the game.

"We wanted to win the game. It's not easy because there's a good team up front. This one, despite the physical and especially mental fatigue from the game in France, little by little entered the game and I don't think we did it wrong," he said.

"But

that: you have to accept it, congratulate the boys, the rival and that's it."

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Aug 1 / 5:30 PM UTC

In photos: Croatia celebrates third place in the World Cup

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Aug 1 / 4:54 PM UTC

Croatia defeats Morocco 2-1 and wins bronze in Qatar 2022

The Moroccan team, the great surprise of the World Cup, brought pride to their country and to the African continent after reaching the semifinals.

But this Saturday the dream of being in the top three places was shattered: Croatia beat them 2-1 to win bronze in Qatar 2022.

Luka Modrić steered the Croatian side to third place in what was probably the great midfielder's last World Cup appearance.

Croatian players celebrate their bronze medal at the World Cup in Qatar. MOLLY DARLINGTON / REUTERS

Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before the first half at the Khalifa International Stadium as Modrić finished on a winning note, if this turns out to be his last World Cup game.

At 37, that seems likely, although there is hope that he will lead his country at Euro 2024.

Josko Gvardiol put Croatia ahead in the 7th minute, but Achraf Dari leveled the game in the 9th.

After becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals, Morocco's tour ended in two defeats.

But the team's achievements in Qatar will be remembered for the outpouring of pride among the Arab nations.

The World Cup final between

(Eastern Time).

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Aug 1 / 4:45 PM UTC

Second yellow card for Morocco

This second foul was given to

, for protesting a failure pointed out on Bruno Ptkovic in midfield.

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Aug 1 / 4:30 PM UTC

Yellow card for Morocco 🟨

Azzedine Ounahi gets a yellow card for punching the ball after Modric was called for a foul.

Azzedine Ounahi (left) and Luka Modric.LEE SMITH / REUTERS

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Aug 1 / 4:30 PM UTC

Morocco will host the Club World Cup in February

By The Associated Press

Morocco will host the Club World Cup next February and FIFA is considering a tournament that will expand to 32 teams in 2025.

European champion Real Madrid, South American Flamengo and the Seattle Sounders, the first club from the United States to win the CONCACAF Champions League, will participate in the seven-team tournament from February 1-11.

On video: The Moroccan goalkeeper's son mistakes the microphone for ice cream

Dec 15, 202200:26

After Morocco's vibrant campaign by reaching the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, the country will host soccer's next big event in six weeks, according to a decision by the FIFA Council.

It will be one of the last editions with the contest of seven teams.

A larger month-long tournament is planned for 2025.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the change is intended to "be a true World Cup."

In Morocco,

and will contribute two teams in the tournament that includes the continental champions of each of the six confederations.

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Aug 1 / 4:13 PM UTC

FIFA plans to enter $11 billion in the 2023-26 cycle

By The Associated Press

FIFA anticipates billing $11 billion through 2026 as the 48-team World Cup in North America will provide a huge revenue boost.

World soccer's governing body presented its four-year budget to the FIFA Council on Friday.

It

for the Men's World Cup, in addition to the sale of tickets and hospitality packages for a tournament that will be staged in various NFL club stadiums.

FIFA Cup.Frank Augstein / AP

"We are bullish on the impact that football will have in the coming years," said Gianni Infantino, president of the entity.

"In Qatar it has been massive and I'm sure that in the next World Cup, in North America, it will be much bigger."

"We will have 48 teams, three countries organizing the World Cup, more matches, more broadcasts, more tickets... And we have to take it as long as there are large stadiums in North America...

FIFA often makes conservative budget estimates and ends up exceeding targets.

The $7.5 billion in revenue announced in Qatar last month for the 2019-22 cycle was $1 billion more than expected.

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Aug 1 / 3:58 PM UTC

The first time in photos

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Aug 1 / 3:56 PM UTC

Croatia leads Morocco 2-1 in the first half

Mislav Orsic, with a good goal in minute 42 when shooting with his right foot, puts Croatia ahead against Morocco (2-1) in the first half of the match that will define the bronze medal in Qatar 2022.

The checkered team took the lead early in the match,

, after a free kick on the edge of the box in the 7th minute, but the Africans responded early, in the 9th, with a goal from Achraf Dari taking advantage of a Bad clearance by Lovro Majer. 

So far we have not witnessed a violent encounter:

Mislav Orsic celebrates after scoring Croatia's second goal. PAUL CHILDS / REUTERS

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Aug 1 / 3:47 PM UTC

Second goool for Croatia!!!

⚽⚽

The match was tilted 2-1 in favor of the Croatian team after a goal by Mislav Orsic.

Mislav Orsic (left), after scoring Croatia's second goal.

Getty Images

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Aug 1 / 3:10 PM UTC

Goal for Morocco!!!

Draw with Croatia 1-1 ⚽

Achraf Dari, from the Moroccan team, quickly scored a goal after Croatia's goal.

Morocco and Croatia draw 1-1.

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Aug 1 / 3:08 PM UTC

Goal for Croatia!!!

⚽

J. Gvardiol, of the Croatian team, scored a goal.

Croatia starts leading Morocco 1-0

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Aug 1 / 3:01 PM UTC

The Morocco-Croatia match begins

Morocco and Croatia play bronze at the Khalifa International Stadium. FABRIZIO BENSCH / REUTERS

The match for the bronze in the World Cup in Qatar 2022 has begun.

Morocco fight for third place for the first time in its history.

While Croatia faces a match for third place for the second time.

For Morocco, the first time was in their first World Cup (France 1998).

For the Balkans, it was when they beat the Netherlands 1-2 and took bronze.

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Aug 1 / 2:39 PM UTC

France and Argentina prepare for the final duel on Sunday

The French downplay the virus that affected them and Argentina trains behind closed doors

Dec 17, 202202:36

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Aug 1 / 2:35 PM UTC

These are the line-ups for Croatia against Morocco

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Aug 1 / 2:27 PM UTC

Will the goalscoring record be broken in Qatar?

So far 163 goals have been scored in Qatar, with two games still to go.

In Russia 2018, 169 goals were scored, while in Brazil 2014 there were 171 and in France 1998, 171.

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Aug 1 / 2:22 PM UTC

This is how Croatia and Morocco arrive at the penultimate game of the World Cup

Croatia comes into the game having won

, where they finished 4-1 in the group stage.

La selección dirigida por Zlatko Dalić tuvo además dos empates en la fase de grupos: 0-0 contra Marruecos y otro 0-0 contra Bélgica, partido con el que consiguió pasar a octavos de final. Empató con Japón 1-1 y ganó por penales, lo mismo hizo con Brasil en cuartos de final. Los de Luka Modrić fueron luego vencidos en la semifinal por la selección argentina 3-0.

El croata Nikola Vlasic (izquierda) y el marroquí Youssef En-Nesyri pelean por un balón durante el partido de Grupo F del Mundial.Aijaz Rahi / AP

Marruecos, por su parte, es la gran sorpresa del Mundial. Comenzó en el grupo F junto a Croacia, Bélgica y Canadá. La selección dirigida por Walid Regragui empató con Croacia 0-0 en el primer encuentro pero luego logró vencer a Bélgica 2-0 y a Canadá 2-1, coronándose así como la primera con 7 puntos.

Then, in the round of 16, they beat Spain on penalties, after a draw at 0, and in the quarterfinals they beat Portual 1-0, but in the semifinal the African team lost 2-0 against France.

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Aug 1 / 1:49 PM UTC

How much money does the winning team earn in the World Cup?

Argentina or France, the winning team in Sunday's final, won't just take home a golden trophy.

The winner will not only win the World Cup (13 pounds of gold).

Also a millionaire prize

Dec 16, 202203:54

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Aug 1 / 1:20 PM UTC

"France is not only Mbappé", says the Argentina coach

Lionel Scaloni, the Argentina coach, looks serene this Saturday, a day before that team faces France in the grand final on Sunday, where fans expect to see

“The match is Argentina against France.

Beyond Messi and Mbappé, we believe that we both have the necessary weapons so that the game can be decided by other players, apart from the two of them.

Let's hope it falls on our side," said Scaloni, who considered the marking and surveillance of the French star "a team effort rather than an individual one."

The French downplay the virus that affected them and Argentina trains behind closed doors

Dec 17, 202202:36

“Francia no es sólo Mbappé. Tiene otros jugadores que lo hacen todavía mejor. Es uno de los grandes jugadores, es joven y seguirá mejorando. No hay duda. Francia tiene variantes en todos los sectores de la cancha, puede jugar la pelota porque tiene jugadores de buen pie y puede jugar al contragolpe. Los partidos se juegan minuto a minuto, pueden ir cambiando y en eso estamos preparados”, dijo.

“Hay una frase hecha de que las finales se ganan, no se juegan. Las finales hay que jugarlas como hemos jugado los últimos partidos, sabiendo las dificultades del rival, analizándolo, sabiendo dónde podemos hacer daño al rival. El partido se analiza y se trabaja”, avisó.

“Sabemos cómo atacarlos, los puntos fuertes que tienen y haremos mucho hincapié en eso”, afirmó el técnico.

Con información de Efe.

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Aug 1 / 1:00 PM UTC

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