In the knockout stages of the European Football Championships, whoever loses is out.
In principle, this is no different at world championships, but there is one exception.
The losers of the two semi-finals don't leave deeply disappointed, but remain deeply disappointed and have to hang on for a few more days after their defeats.
Because they are contesting the game for third place, so to speak, as a prelude to the big final, in which they are not allowed to play.
The mood among those involved is usually not so great about the extra time, even if almost everyone emphasizes that they still want to win...
Tobias Rabe
Responsible editor for Sport Online.
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At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Croatia and Morocco are in this thankless game that has to be played, but which is no longer so decisive.
Curiously, both met in their respective first games of the tournament.
In the preliminary round, they were in a group and parted with a goalless draw.
It wasn't a good start for the favorite Croatians, but the Moroccans realized that the small win against the finalists Russia after dropping out in the group phase at the 2018 World Cup doesn't mean it has to end so early.
The data on the world rankings (12th to 22nd place) and the average market values of the players (14.5 to 9.7) still show advantages for the Croatians.
This continues in the World Cup forecast by Daniel Memmert and Fabian Wunderlich, which is based on the values of the betting market.
According to this, the probability that Croatia will take third place after second place in 2018 is 41.3 percent after regular time.
It is not unlikely that there will be extra time or penalties.
If that happens, the Croatians will still prevail with 57.1 percent.
Then, despite all the disappointment in the semi-finals, there would certainly be a little cheering.