Is there a more bittersweet match in the World Cup than the third place play-off?
By the time the game kicks off, both teams involved — Croatia and Morocco — will have played more matches than any other side in the tournament. That's because the final traditionally takes place the next day, meaning the two losing semi-final teams will temporarily log more minutes than the sides they fell to.
What's worse is that the teams involved will need to get over the emotional low of falling at the penultimate stage of the world's biggest tournament quickly enough to compete for some hardware.
That's right, the third-place finishers at the World Cup receive bronze medals for their accomplishment, while the fourth place teams get nothing. It's a harsh way to go out if you're the losers, but the line must be drawn somewhere.
But do the players even care?
Judging from the intensity of third place play-offs in past tournaments, the players absolutely do care. While receiving bronze medals pales in comparison to lifting the most prized trophy in football, placing third is still a massive achievement and, for most players, will represent the pinnacle of their international success.
For the Qatar 2022 World Cup, 206 nations were involved in the qualification process. To finish top three of 206 is a huge accomplishment, and the medals serve as a permanent reminder of a magical run that, while coming up just short of the ultimate prize, still ended on a high note.