France 1-0 win in the first semifinal of a World Cup tournament: Antoine Griezmann’s goal and Morocco’s own goal
It was the seventh time that France had made the final of a World Cup. It lost three in a row: Brazil 1958, West Germany 1982 and 1986. But it won the next four (Croatia 1998, Portugal, 2006, Belgium 2018 and Morocco 2022).
In the 5th minute, the Moroccan defense let a ball scoot by to French forward Antoine Griezmann who passed it to Kylian Mbappé. He was swarmed by defenders but still managed a shot. He elevated and sent the ball with a soaring left-footed scissor kick beyond keeper Yassine “Bono” Bounou to score 1-0.
Goalkeeping and defense have been outstanding for the North African nation. The semifinals were the only time in the tournament that Morocco had allowed a goal. They stopped Europe’s soccer powerhouses: Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal. Canada is the only team credited with a score – but it was an own goal, put in the net by a Moroccan player.
The Atlas Lions were defeated by a first half goal. The team made an early substitution after the captain Romain Saiss was injured, and another was pulled in the middle of the game because of an injury.
The rest of the half was spent attacking France. The zinger bounced from the left post, and was a golden chance for the French scoring leader.
The fate of Morocco and Croatia in the third-place playoff after losing to South America at the World Cup – What will they do next?
Your team has just lost in the semifinal at a World Cup. You’re understandably heartbroken, endlessly replaying the possibilities of what might have been.
After a long time away, you want to return to your hometown to see family and friends, but instead, you have to stay and play in the third place playoff.
If coming third instead of fourth isn’t enough incentive, the winner of the match will also get a bronze medal and a little more cash for their efforts – $27 million instead of $25 million.
The teams that finish third at the World Cup have a significant say in the third-place playoff. Four years ago in Russia, England played as if it couldn’t have cared less for the match, while the likes of Uruguay in 2010, though losing to Germany, and Croatia in 1998 were certainly considerably more eager to try and win.
This year, in Morocco and Croatia, there are two teams that are seemingly eager to try and secure that bronze medal and $2 million extra for their respective federations.
After already making history, Morocco and head coach Walid Regragui will want to cement themselves further into the record books by also becoming the first African team to finish third.
Croatia was outplayed from the start by the South Americans and looked exhausted after playing extra-time and penalties in the previous rounds.
Luka Modric wants to finish his international career on a high by leading Croatia in the World Cup and this group is determined to ensure their place in Croatian history with consecutive second- and third-place finishes.
These two teams played out a tense 0-0 draw in their opening game of the group stages three weeks ago and Saturday’s clash will likely be just as tight.
Morocco’s first win in the tournament history of the world cup: a massive effort by a young and talented player on a big man’s effort
Despite being the best team in the tournament, Morocco could only finish fourth and miss out on a spot in the World Cup semifinals.
I want to give a shout out to Morocco, they did a great job. Really I am proud, very happy. Maybe it wasn’t expected that Croatia would do something big again but we are a small country with big dreams and congratulations to everyone. We wanted to go back home as a winner and not a loser.”
Modri is our captain and he played well in this tournament as well. He is 37 years old but he played like a 25-year-old maximum. He is our leader and everybody follows him.”
From the outset, defending was at a premium. Having played out a goalless draw earlier in the tournament, within the first 10 minutes at the Khalifa International Stadium both sides had found the back of the net.
First, Croatia’s star young defender, Gvardiol, put his side ahead in the seventh minute after a superbly worked free kick. The ball was headed backwards by Ivan Perii for the 20-year old to power his side ahead.
With Morocco’s fans once again providing a fantastic atmosphere, chances came and went in pulsating fashion – Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri’s header from a corner drifted just wide.
Croatia thought it had a penalty when Gvardiol was brought down in the Morocco box after a wonderful run. However, the video assistant referee (VAR) deemed it not a foul, to the amazement of the Croatian players, despite it appearing as if Sofyan Amrabat had clipped the heels of the defender.
The run to the semifinals of the World Cup, the first for a North African team, captured the heart and mind of the entire continent and ends the magic of its few weeks in Qatar.
Unfortunate consequences of Ori’s late goal against Morocco in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Modric’s absence
If this is the last World Cup match for Modri, Mislav Ori scored the decisive goal shortly before halftime to ensure he finished with a victory.
The third-place match is considered meaningless by some. Walid Regragui described it as a “phantom prize,” in the build up. But neither team lacked motivation in a fiercely contested game between two nations that few expected to go so far.
The teams had played out a tie and made it to the semifinals on the back of six shut outs. The goals were not a problem this time.
Maybe it was because of the relative freedom playing a game that has little at stake. Another factor for Morocco, at least, was the absence of three key defenders, Romain Saïss, Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui. The impact of those absences was felt when Croatia took the lead off Gvardiol’s diving header. In a slick move, Ivan Perišić flicked a free kick into the middle of the penalty box and the center back did the rest.