Morocco motivated to win 'worst game', insists manager Walid Regragui ahead of third-place playoff against Croatia

Morocco head coach Walid Regragui admits the World Cup third-place play-off is the "worst game" to play in but still wants his side to become the first African nation to medal in a finals.

Having beaten Belgium, Spain and Portugal to reach the semis, Morocco lost 2-0 to reigning champions France as their record-breaking run came to an end in Qatar.

They will now face Croatia at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday (Live on RTÉ2/Player) to battle for the bronze medal, having already become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.

While Regragui said the match was "the worst game to play" and likened it to winning the "booby prize", he is keen to be successful.

"We would like things to have gone differently and played in the final but there is another game to play, we would like to be on the podium," he said.

"We know that Croatia also want to finish in third place, we played them in our opening game so that will be nice.

"It will be no walk in the park physically, they have had one more rest day.

"We need to clear our heads a little but, when you come out of a semi-final, the first time we've ever been in one, emotions were running high and it was quite difficult. However, my players still have that appetite they want to finish well and they know they still have one game to play with all to play for.

"Finishing third is not the same as finishing fourth and we want to take a medal home with us."

Regragui also backed the Moroccan Football Association’s official complaint to FIFA after they were not awarded a penalty during the semi-final, instead seeing Sofiane Boufal booked when he appeared to be fouled by Theo Hernandez.

"All is fair in love and war. Our FA wanted to put forward the complaint, I feel they were