Croatia and Morocco will be looking to end their excellent World Cup campaigns on a high when they square off in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
While the majority of supporters around the world will insist that they have little interest in a match of reduced importance, the two nations involved will hold a different opinion.
That is particularly true in the case of Morocco, who became the first African team to reach the semi-finals before they were edged out 2-0 by France on Wednesday.
Despite that disappointment, the Atlas Lions still hold an opportunity to make history at the Khalifa International Stadium and set a benchmark which may not be eclipsed for some time.
From Croatia's perspective, they had been hoping to become just the sixth team to reach successive World Cup finals until they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Argentina in the last four.
However, if the Checkered Ones can prevail on Saturday, they will have achieved third place or better in three of their six appearances at the tournament.
The upcoming showdown between the two teams will be just their third in history, yet that is not to say that these countries should be regarded as strangers.
In fact, they are renewing acquaintances after less than a month since their most recent meeting, which came in their opening fixture in Group F.
At the time, it was perceived that Morocco had performed above their capabilities to earn a goalless draw with the 2018 runners-up, yet it proved to be Walid Regragui's side who would ultimately top their four-nation group.
Before that stalemate at the Al Bayt Stadium, the only other fixture came in 1996 when they squared off in the Hassan II Trophy in Casablanca.
Croatia ultimately prevailed from that semi-final tie 7-6 on penalties, but a thrilling 2-2 draw has been played out before they went to battle from 12 yards.
Goran Vlaovic put Croatia two goals to the good by the 15-minute mark, only for Salahedine Bassir and Ahmed Bahja ensuring that Morocco were level at the end of normal time.
CROATIA VS. MOROCCO HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Croatia wins: 0
Morocco wins: 0
Draws: 2
Croatia goals: 2
Morocco goals: 2
MATCH HISTORY
December 11, 1996: Morocco 2-2 Croatia (Croatia won 7-6 on penalties) (Hassan II Trophy)
November 23, 2022: Morocco 0-0 Croatia (World Cup)
Read more on Croatia vs Morocco
- Click here to read our full preview for Croatia vs Morocco
- How Croatia could line up against Morocco
- How Morocco could line up against Croatia
- World Cup 2022: Reasons for Croatia to be confident of beating Morocco
body check tags ::
