The game of the day
The little final.
A match to go down in posterity, as Andrej Kramaric explained.
This Saturday afternoon, Croatia and Morocco are competing for third place in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The checkered selection, an unfortunate finalist in Russia four years earlier against France, will be keen to leave Doha with a new medal;
especially for what should be the last World Cup of their captain Luka Modric.
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Zlatko Dalic's men will however have a lot to do since they will face the Atlas Lions - deprived of their captain Romain Saïss - extremely motivated at the idea of being able to write the most beautiful page in the history of football. Moroccan but also African.
A great meeting in perspective between two teams who have already faced each other in the group stage (0-0).
Read alsoWorld Cup: the complete table of the final phase
The broadcast schedule and channels
Croatia-Morocco (Small final): 4 p.m. (
TF1
,
beIN Sports 1
)
Read also World Cup: "We are in the place of the idiot when we are third or fourth", grimaces the coach of Morocco
The program of the Blues this Saturday
On the eve of the final against Argentina, Didier Deschamps and Hugo Lloris, the captain of the France team, will be at a press conference.
In the afternoon, at 4:30 p.m., the Blues will be entitled to a final preparation session;
the first quarter of an hour will be open to the press but the rest of the training will be behind closed doors.
It will be interesting to know who will take part and who will be spared as a virus seems to be circulating within the group and two players - Lucas Hernandez and Aurélien Tchouameni - were slightly affected this Friday.
Read alsoWorld Cup: five players exempted from training, slaughter at the Blues two days from Argentina-France
The words of Andrej Kramaric (Croatia)
Asked about the small final between Croatia and Morocco this Saturday (4 p.m.), Andrej Kramaric insisted on underlining the importance of this meeting: "
The eight of us who were in Russia (during the final lost against France in 2018, editor's note) we understand the emotion of winning a medal at a World Cup.
(...) It's something that follows you for the rest of your life.
It's a historic meeting and we have to focus on that.
We have the opportunity to do something similar, which we can tell our children about one day
,” said the striker of the checkered selection.
Read alsoFootball: Modric could participate in Euro 2024 if Croatia qualifies, according to Dalic
Player to watch: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)
If Croatia made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup, it was mainly because they were able to rely on their goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, author of several remarkable performances both during the group stage than in the knockout stage.
In this small final, it will be necessary for the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper to maintain his level of performance for the checkered selection to snatch third place in the competition.
Indeed, facing the Atlas Lions who should leave the ball to the Croats, he should not be in much demand but will have to be able to make the right saves at the right time.
Besides, that's how you recognize a great goalkeeper.
Read alsoWorld Cup: Morocco without Saïss for third place against Croatia
The expression of the day: "A goal from elsewhere"
A lob from the midfield, a powerful shot that comes to rest in the top corner or even an acrobatic return... There is no shortage of examples to illustrate what "
a goal from elsewhere
" is.
To sum up, it's an extraordinary achievement that leaves spectators, television viewers - and sometimes players - speechless...or rather makes them scream, get excited, get excited.
Like the half-volley scored by Benjamin Pavard in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup against Argentina - to equalize - or like the goal scored from 68 meters by Wahbi Khazri last season, in Ligue 1, against FC Metz .
It is in particular to experience this type of goal that we follow football.
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