🏆 World Cup bronze medal up for grabs on penultimate day | OneFootball

After two rest days, it is now time to gear up for the final two days of action this weekend from the 2022 World Cup.

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So, I’m free today, what can I not afford to miss?

There is just one game to watch out for on Saturday as Croatia take on Morocco in the contractually-obligated third-place play-off.

Few could have expected the sides would be meeting with the bronze medal at stake when they faced off in the group stage three weeks ago – a dull 0-0 that was low on incident.

Both improved dramatically since that affair, Croatia again enjoying another deep run in the competition after more extra-time and penalty heroics before ultimately being stopped in their tracks by Lionel Messi in the semi-final.

Built on an airtight defence and clinical edge in front of goal, Morocco conceded just once (an own goal) on their run to the last four before two cruel deflections leading to goals ultimately ended their fairytale run against France.

Will they be the hungrier to achieve a podium position this time, with Croatia having left Russia four years ago with silver medals to show for their efforts?

Got any interesting stats or facts?

Although these sides have combined to go to penalties in half of their knockout games between them in this edition, no third place play-off has ever been decided by a shootout in 19 previous clashes, with 18 of those being settled in normal time.

Morocco are aiming to end a lengthy period of European domination in this fixture. The last time a side from outside of that continent won the bronze medal was Brazil in 1978.

Croatia have also never conceded a goal to an African nation at the World Cup in three previous meetings.

How have the sides reached this stage?

After facing each other in the dull scoreless stalemate, both sides found a new gear for the remainder of the tournament.

Croatia came from behind to thrash Canada (the only game in the competition in which they led) before another 0-0 against Belgium saw them book their place in the last 16.

There, they fought back to defeat Japan on penalties, with goalkeeper Dominik Livaković saving three and he was key in the quarter-final shootout too, as Croatia mounted a late comeback to beat Brazil before going down 3-0 to Argentina in the semi-final.

Two goals from substitutes saw Morocco defeat Belgium and they then booked only their second knockout appearance with victory over Canada before going on to defeat Iberian peninsula neighbours Spain on penalties and Portugal.

Whose side is history on?

Croatia were victorious in their only previous third place play-off, beating the Netherlands 2-1 in 1998.

In addition, this is only the Atlas Lions’ second foray past the group stage (qualifying to the second round in 1986), while it is the furthest an African nation has ever progressed at the World Cup.

Have you got a player to watch?

Keep an eye on the goalkeepers.

Both Bono and Livaković have been outstanding at times throughout this competition and could be key, particularly if this one runs deep.

It is also worth savouring Luka Modrić, should he feature. If he does, he will become the first outfield player aged over 37 to feature in seven games at a single edition of the World Cup.

It is also likely to be his last ever appearance on football’s grandest stage.