2022 World Cup: Croatia 3rd in the World Cup, it’s time for the grand final!

20:55 – The words of the coach of Morocco after the defeat against Croatia

[FIN DU DIRECT] – This is the end of this live dedicated to the 2022 World Cup. Before leaving, we bring you the words of Walid Regragui, coach of Morocco, after the defeat of his team in the small final against Croatia (1-2). “We would have liked to please our public until the end, but, honestly, the boys gave everything, until the last minute. We are still happy at the end. We are in the four best teams in the world. Congratulations to Croatia, I think they deserve their third place.”

19:58 – Argentinian party in the streets of Doha

The beautiful image of the day is offered by an Argentinian television. A video shows supporters, who gathered in Doha, partying and singing to the glory of the Albiceleste.

18:59 – Croatia for the third time on the podium

By winning against Morocco (2-1) this Saturday, the Croats finished in third place in the 2022 World Cup. For their sixth participation in a world cup, it is the third time that they have placed themselves on the podium, after their third place in 1998 and their second place in 2018.

17:53 – Croatia – Morocco: The match Croatia – Morocco is over (2-1)

The statistics testify to the domination of Croatia: after this meeting, possession of the ball is slightly in their favor (52% against 48% for Morocco). Croatia also obtained the most serious situations with 5 shots on target against 2 shots on target for Morocco and therefore won quite logically (2-1) in this match. Croatia – Morocco in live

17:02 – Croatia – Morocco: Start of the 2nd period

It’s off again between Croatia and Morocco, in Doha, where Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al-Jassim signals the kick-off. The reminder of the score: 2-1. Croatia – Morocco in live

16:47 – Croatia – Morocco: Half-time is whistled in Doha

Croatia’s superiority can be seen in the numbers: at half-time, possession of the ball is slightly to the advantage of Croatia (59% against 41% for Morocco), which also obtained the most serious situations with 5 shots on target against 1 shot on target for Morocco and which therefore leads rather logically to the score (2-1). Croatia – Morocco in live

16:41 – Croatia – Morocco: Mislav Orsic scores another goal for Croatia (2-1)!

42ᵉ. Mislav Orsic has just found the opening and restores the advantage to his team in the 42nd minute! The match takes a new turn at the Khalifa International Stadium: the scoreboard goes to 2 to 1 in this 1st half. Croatia – Morocco in live

16:08 – Croatia – Morocco: Achraf Dari resets the counters for Morocco (1-1)!

9ᵉ. This is a goal that changes everything: Morocco comes back to score in the 9th minute of play in this 1st half. It was Achraf Dari who reset the counters with his head. The score goes to 1 to 1 at the Khalifa International Stadium! Croatia – Morocco in live

16:06 – Croatia – Morocco: Josko Gvardiol unblocks the counters in Doha (1-0)!

7ᵉ. Croatia opened the scoring with a header in the 7th minute in this 1st period. And it was Josko Gvardiol who scored that first goal! 1-0 at Khalifa International Stadium. Croatia – Morocco in live

16:00 – Croatia – Morocco: Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al-Jassim kicks off Croatia – Morocco!

The kick off of this meeting between Croatia and Morocco has just been given by the referee of the meeting, at the Khalifa International Stadium. Croatia – Morocco in live

15:40 – The Morocco-Croatia match will begin

The small final will begin in a few minutes. Morocco and Croatia will be battling it out for third place in the 2022 World Cup. After pulling off a terrific competition, both teams will want to end it on a high and climb to third place on the podium. Ironically, the two selections had faced each other on behalf of the first day of the group stages. The match ended in a goalless draw (0-0).

To get there, Croatia dismissed Belgium in the pool and especially Brazil in the quarter-finals, after winning the eighth against Japan. The 3-0 defeat against Argentina in the semi-finals will not tarnish the image of the exceptional competition of the Croatians, finalists in 2018, who have climbed once again into the last four of a World Cup.

For their part, the Moroccans held a remarkable and above all historic tournament! It is the first African team to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup. To get there, they eliminated the Spaniards and the Portuguese. Defeated by the Blues in the semi-finals (2-0), Morocco now has its head turned towards this small final to end this competition in style.

14:35 – How to determine the top scorer of the competition in case of a tie?

Tomorrow, in addition to the title of world champion, the title of top scorer in the competition is also at stake. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé are at 5 goals. Just behind them, Olivier Giroud and Julian Alvarez have 4 goals. But what will happen in the event of a tie? If such an event occurs, it will then be necessary to look at the second criterion which is that of the number of assists. If this is still not enough, then the last criterion will have to be applied, which is that of playing time. The player who has spent the least time on the pitch will then be designated as the top scorer of the 2022 World Cup. .

13:28 – Is Karim Benzema angry with the Blues?

Another shadow hovers over Didier Deschamps and the France team: that of discord and resentment that have punctuated its history several times. Yesterday, Karim Benzema posted an enigmatic message on Instagram. Under a photo of him with a grumpy face, the Ballon d’Or wrote: “I’m not interested”. A sentence which was quickly interpreted as the answer to those who were waiting for him in the Lusail stadium on Sunday, to support the Blues. According to the Spanish media Relevo, Benzema would drag his feet to come to Qatar to attend the final, while Real Madrid offered him this possibility and Emmanuel Macron would like to find all the injured French players there, including Paul Pogba and Lucas Hernandez. At issue: his ousting from the France team by Didier Deschamps and his staff because of his thigh injury just before the competition, a choice he would have considered premature and expeditious. If the rumor – because it is one – were true, the atmosphere could be a little tarnished in this final. Recall that KB9 had posted a message of encouragement to the Blues after their qualification for the semi-finals.

13:05 – The virus that hovers over the Blues

A shadow has been hanging over the team of Didier Deschamps since last week, who conceded half-worded that a virus was lurking in the hotel and the locker room of the Blues. Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano, absent from the semi-final for a “feverish” or even “flu-like” state, resumed training this week and should be fit for the final. But Ibrahima Konaté, Kingsley Coman and Raphaël Varane were in turn absent from training this Friday, like Aurélien Tchouaméni (hip contusion) and Théo Hernandez (in treatment). Sick, Ibrahima Konaté and Raphaël Varane stayed at the hotel. Preserved and spared for the last match against Argentina, their condition did not worry the staff on Friday.