Mueez Ajao
– The chances of winning the World Cup might have gone for Croatia and Morocco, but “immortality” is at stake when the two teams meet in Saturday’s third-place playoff.
– That’s according to Croatia’s forward Andrej Kramaric, who dispelled the notion it would be a meaningless contest at Khalifa International Stadium.
– “I think if you ask this question to Moroccan players, I don’t think they will look that way,” Kramaric said at a news conference on Thursday. “They’re fighting for their lives because if you win a medal at a World Cup you become an immortal hero in your country. That’s the same thing we are going to do.”
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– Morocco defied the odds to become the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals, but the Atlas Lions’ run came to an end with a 2-0 loss to defending champions France on Wednesday.
– Croatia reached the final in Russia in 2018, but suffered a 3-0 loss to Argentina on Tuesday in their bid to make a return trip to the World Cup decider.
– Kramaric added: “Eight of us from [the tournament in] Russia understand that feeling of winning a medal at the World Cup and we have a lot of players who haven’t experienced that and would love to do that because it’s something that will stay with you for the rest of their life.”
