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Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

author:National Business Daily
Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

At 23 o'clock Beijing time on December 17, the third place match of the Qatar World Cup began at the Khalifa International Stadium, and Croatia and Morocco competed for the third place. The two teams have met twice in their history, with Croatia having the upper hand with one win and one draw. One of those matches took place in the group stage of this World Cup, when Croatia and Morocco drew 0-0.

Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

Image source: Xinhua News Agency

Croatian starters: 1 Livakovic, 2 Stanišic, 24 Šutalo, 20 Gvadior, 4 Perisic, 10 Modric, 8 Kovacic, 7 Mayer, 9 Kramarić, 18 Orsic, 14 Livaja

Morocco starters: 1 Bunou, 2 Ashraf, 20 Ashraf Dari, 18 Yamik, 25 Atiyat Aral, 4 Amrabat, 11 Sabiri, 23 Al Hanus, 7 Ziyeh, 17 Buffal, 19 Ennesri

At press time, Croatia led Morocco 2-1 at half-time.

In the 7th minute, "The Mask Man" Gvadior scored with a header to give Croatia the lead:

Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan
Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

In the 9th minute, Moroccan player Ashraf Dari's header equalised:

Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan
Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

In the 42nd minute, Orcić scored from the far corner to give Croatia a 2-1 lead:

Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan
Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

Can history-making North Africa take a step further? How did legendary midfielder Modric do the "last dance"? Who will spend the golden gloves on? ...... These suspense will become the focus of the third-place battle.

Three highlights of the competition

Can the Moroccan team do another miracle?

In this World Cup, the Moroccan team is undoubtedly the "super dark horse", they became the first African team in history to reach the final four of the World Cup, which is enough to go down in history.

The Moroccan team is well-organised and wise, and their counter-attacking speed, defensive tactics and goalkeeper talent are key to their success in this World Cup. After 2 wins and 1 draw in the first place of the group, Morocco defeated Spain on penalties in the knockout stage; 1:0 beat Portugal; In the end, they lost 0:2 to defending champions France in the semi-finals and missed the final. A victory over Croatia would give the Moroccan another World Cup record for an African team.

Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

Morocco's Ennesri (third from right) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in a match on December 10. On the same day, Morocco defeated Portugal in the quarterfinals. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu

Modric dances the "last dance"

This is likely to be the 37-year-old Modric's last World Cup, and as the "soul of the team", the Croatian team must hope to end the World Cup career of the veteran with victory.

Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

Croatia's Modric (right) and Argentina's Enzo Fernandez (center) scramble during a match on December 13. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lan Hongguang

For this bronze medal, Modric is bound to win: "We have to win the game and go back to Croatia with the medal. We will spare no effort to win this bronze medal and let our fans celebrate us again. ”

Whose house the golden gloves flowered

Both teams have top goalkeepers, and who will become the golden glove of this World Cup will depend on the third-place performance.

Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic saved Japan's first three penalties in a penalty shootout against Japan, becoming the third goalkeeper in World Cup history to save three penalties. In the 8-4 match, Livakovic made 11 successful saves and saved Rodrigo's penalty in the penalty shootout to eliminate Brazil.

Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic (right) saves Brazil's Rodrigo shot on penalties on 9 December. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ming

Moroccan goalkeeper Bonu has also been excellent, conceding just two goals in the semi-final against France this World Cup (not counting an own goal from his teammates in the previous penalty shootout). In the quarter-final against Spain, Bunu saved two penalties. In the quarterfinals, he kept a clean sheet against Portugal, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo hated.

Goal battle, "Mask Man" scored, Croatia 2:1 Morocco at halftime! Modric danced the "last dance", and the third runner-up will receive a prize of 188 million yuan

Moroccan goalkeeper Bonu (first from right) saves in a quarterfinal against Portugal on December 10. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Jundong

Why does the World Cup have a third place?

The third-place match is also often ridiculed as "the most boring match in the World Cup".

Not all football competitions have a third place, such as the Champions League does not have a third place. But since 1954, the World Cup has had a third place. For FIFA, broadcasters and sponsors can provide it with significant revenue. Even before the World Cup began, FIFA's commercial revenue had reached $7.5 billion. For participating teams, different places mean different prize money. The third-place team will receive $27 million (about 188 million yuan), $2 million more than the fourth-place team. In addition to the prize money, the team that finished third will also receive a bronze medal awarded by FIFA.

Croatia is one of the oldest players in this World Cup. The match is likely to be the last World Cup appearance by 33-year-old defender Dejan Lovren, 37-year-old midfielder Modric and 33-year-old striker Perisic. Croatian coach Dalic praised them as the "golden generation" of Croatian football, saying: "With their age, it will be difficult for many people to play in the World Cup in 2026. ”

Morocco, in contrast, finished fifth among the youngest teams in this World Cup.

Editors| He Xiaotao, Du Hengfeng

Proofreader| Liu Xiaoying

Daily economic news comprehensive Xinhua News Agency, Red Star News

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