Moroccan national football team coach Walid Lakraki (47) compared the victory in the 3rd and 4th place matches to a ‘consolation prize’, strongly expressing his regret at not reaching the Qatar World Cup finals.
According to the Associated Press, coach Lakraki described the 3rd and 4th place matches with Croatia as “like a booby prize” at a press conference held in Doha, Qatar on the 16th (local time).
The Bubisang, which literally translates as the ‘Idiot Award’, is an award given to teams that are in the bottom or bottom ranks in the English-speaking world with a message of encouragement and encouragement.
“I’m sorry to say this. 토토 I understand that winning the 3rd and 4th place matches is important and that 3rd place is better than 4th place,” Lakraki said. said.
He swallowed regret, saying, “This match will be the ‘worst match’ we will face. It’s disappointing, but I’m still happy to play.”
He confessed, “Emotions were high for the first time in the semifinals. I needed to clear my head.”
Morocco was the first African or Arab country to reach the semi-finals, drawing attention as the main player of the storm, but lost 0-2 to France and had to play in the 3rd and 4th place matches instead of the finals.
The opponent is Croatia, who lost to Argentina led by Lionel Messi (35, Paris Saint-Germain).
Like the regretful remarks of coach Lakraki, who was virtually ‘dropped out’ because he failed to make it to the next round, the match for 3rd and 4th place has been met with skepticism over the necessity.
The American newspaper Los Angeles (LA) Times evaluated this game on the 16th as “one of those meaningless international matches that no player wants to play and only some fans remember when it’s over.”
The newspaper commented that, unlike the Olympics, where a bronze medalist is essential, in the World Cup, which focuses on determining the final winner of the tournament, the 3rd and 4th place matches lose their legitimacy.
At the same time, he pointed out that FIFA is maintaining the 3rd and 4th place matches to collect more sponsorship money and broadcasting fees.
Coach Louis Van Gaal, who led the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, said ahead of the 3rd and 4th place matches with Brazil at the time, “I have been saying for 10 years that this match should not be held.”
At this time, the Netherlands beat Brazil 3-0 to finish the tournament in 3rd place.
However, Zakariya Abuhalal (22, Toulouse), who came to the conference with coach Lakraki, was happy that he could play one more game.
He said, “I think the 3rd and 4th place match is a good match because it is the first time in Africa’s history to finish the tournament in 3rd place in the world.”