惜しくも準決勝で敗れたチーム同士の3位決定戦。
前回ロシア大会準優勝だったクロアチアは、ベスト16では日本を、ベスト8ではブラジルをどちらも1-1の後のPK戦でしぶとく勝ち上がってきた。
しかし、メッシ率いるアルゼンチンには0-3と完敗し、この3位決定戦に臨んだ。
一方のモロッコは、今大会でアフリカ勢として初めてベスト4に進出して、大きな話題となったチーム。
しかも、グループステージでは優勝候補でFIFAランキング2位のベルギーを、決勝トーナメントに進んでからはスペイン、ポルトガルというヨーロッパの強豪を次々と倒してきた。
ベスト4の戦いでは、その勢いでフランスも撃破するのではと期待されたが、内容では互角以上の戦いを展開しながら、決定力の差で惜しくもフランスに敗れてしまった。
この2チームは、グループステージで同じグループFに属して一度対戦している。その時は0-0でドロー。この3位決定戦で決着をつけることになった。
前半7分。クロアチアにフリーキックのチャンス。今大会において堅い守りで高い評価を受けているクロアチアのDFグバルディオルがヘディングでゴールを決めて、クロアチアが先制。
しかしその直後の前半9分。今度はモロッコにフリーキックのチャンス。クロアチアのクリアボールを、ダリが頭で決めて同点ゴール。試合は予想通りの伯仲した好ゲームとなった。
その後は両チームもとチャンスがありながらゴールまでには至らず。
このまま延長戦かと思われたが、後半42分にクロアチアのオルシッチが左サイドからキーパーの頭の上を超えた技りのミドルシュートが決まり、遂にクロアチアが勝ち越しに成功した。
残りの時間、モロッコは猛攻を仕掛けたが、同点には追いつけずそのままタイムアップ。
クロアチアは、前回の準優勝に続いて今回は3位で大会を終えた。FIFAランキングでは22位だがこの大会でも前回大会同様にPK戦で勝ち上がり、ランキングには表れない強さを見せた。
クロアチアの強さを支えているのはベテランのモドリッチ。37歳だがこの試合でもフルタイム出場し、幾度となくチャンスを作り、相手の攻撃の芽をつんだ。
敗れてしまったモロッコだが、この大会での活躍は特筆すべきものだった。
準決勝でもフランス戦同様、何度も決定的なチャンスを作ったが、最後は相手の攻守や自らの決定力の弱さに泣いた。
The 3rd place match between the teams that unfortunately lost in the semi-finals.
Croatia, who were the runners-up in the previous tournament in Russia, have won Japan in the last 16 and Brazil in the last 8 in penalty shootouts after 1-1.
However, against Argentina, led by Messi, was completely defeated by 0-3, and faced this third place match.
Morocco, on the other hand, became the first African team to advance to the top 4 in this tournament and became a hot topic.
Moreover, in the group stage, they have beaten Belgium, who is the 2nd place in the FIFA rankings, and they have beaten the European powerhouses, Spain and Portugal, one after another after advancing to the knockout rounds.
In the best 4 battle, it was expected that France would also be defeated with that momentum, but in terms of content, they were more than evenly matched, but unfortunately lost to France due to the difference in finishing power.
The two teams have faced each other once in the same Group F in the group stage. At that time, it was a 0-0 draw. This 3rd place match was decided to settle.
7 minutes in the first half. Free kick chance for Croatia. Croatia's DF Gvardiol, who has been highly evaluated for his solid defense in this tournament, scored a goal with a header, giving Croatia the lead.
However, 9 minutes in the first half immediately after that. This time Morocco had a free-kick chance. Croatia's clear ball was scored by Dali with his head to tie the score. As expected, the match turned out to be a good game.
After that, both teams had chances but failed to reach the goal.
It seemed that the game would go into extra time, but in the 42nd minute of the second half, Croatia's Orsic scored a skillful mid-range shot that went over the head of the keeper from the left side, and Croatia finally succeeded in winning.
In the remaining time, Morocco launched a fierce attack, but they could not equalize the score and the time was up as it was.
Croatia finished the tournament in 3rd place this time, following their runner-up finish last year. Although they are ranked 22nd in the FIFA rankings, they won the penalty shootout in this tournament as well as in the previous tournament, showing their strength that cannot be seen in the rankings.
Croatia's strength is supported by veteran Modric. Although he is 37 years old, he played full-time in this game, creating many chances and growing the opponent's offensive buds.
Despite losing to Morocco, their performance in this tournament was noteworthy.
In the semi-finals, as in the match against France, they created many decisive chances, but in the end they cried at the opponent's offense and defense and their own lack of finishing power.
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