To some, it’s little more than a meaningless exhibition match. To others, it’s much more than that.

The third-place playoff at the World Cup can be a confusing concept.

“You are so disappointed, you’ve just lost a semi-final and then two days later, you have to go back out there,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui said on Friday.

Regragui’s history-making team — the first African nation to reach the World Cup semis — will play Croatia on Saturday at Khalifa International Stadium.

“It’s like the booby prize,” Regragui said. “I am sorry for speaking like this. I understand that it should be important, I understand that it is better to finish third than fourth, but for me, my takeaway is that we just didn’t get to the final.”

Morocco’s run to the semis in Qatar provided the most improbable story of the tournament. The team was also the first Arab nation to go so far in football’s biggest event, generating an outpouring of pride among Arab countries.

After such a wild and dizzying ride, it’s understandable that Regragui sounded so flat when looking ahead to the match against Croatia. It’s also a measure of his own ambition that he ends an unforgettable tournament for African football with a sense of disappointment after being beaten by defending champions France 2-0.

“Finishing third would be great for our image. We would be on the podium,” the coach said. “But you know what, even if we win the game tomorrow (Saturday), we won’t have won the World Cup.”

Medal matters

The atmosphere in the Croatian camp has been more upbeat.

The runners-up from the last World Cup in Russia lost to Argentina 0-3 in the other semi-final match, but their players have spoken of the importance of winning another medal.

Forward Andrej Kramaric described it as the chance to “become an immortal hero in your country.” “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 your life,” Kramaric said.

Luka Modric, who is likely playing in his last World Cup, had similar thoughts. “We need to leave everything to win the bronze medal,” he said.

To finish second and third in back-to-back World Cups would further secure the legacy of a golden generation for Croatia.

“Saturday’s match is not a small one for us, but a big final, a fight for third place, for a medal,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. “It’s a big thing if we take the bronze medal, that would be great. The difference is being third or fourth in the world, we will do everything todo that.”

Morocco and Croatia have already played each other at this year’s World Cup, a 0-0draw in the group stage.

“We know that Croatia gota lot of stick because they weren’t able to beat Morocco,” Regragui said. “Morocco was one of the underdogs and now weboth reached the semi-finals.”

Injured Morocco centre-back Romain Saiss, the team’s captain, will miss the game after lasting only 21 minutes against France. NoussairMazraoui, also substituted in that match, is a doubt. “We have really, really pushed our players to the limits, but they still want to go out and play again,” Regragui said.