[JustAnotherFan]

why do they continue to have a 3rd place game?  It's not like many people care which of the semifinal losers ends up 3rd vs 4th......

I was living in Germany during the 2002 World Cup when Germany lost to Brazil. Germany has a brobdingnagian Turkish population, and when Turkey beat S. Korea in the third place game they streamed into the streets and partied like they had just won the World Cup. The next day, when Brazil beat Germany, as soon as the game ended Brazilians and Germans and Turks all streamed into the streets to celebrate their teams. Even adjusting for the number of revelers for each nation, I believe the Turks were the happiest of the three. You'll never convince them that the third place game doesn't matter.

I dunno,  I'd be happier with third than second: end on a winning note, don't have to watch a higher team at the awards. Hoping for the best.

You're not the only one. Bronze medalists at the Olympics end up less disappointed than silver medalists for similar reasons (with or without an additional game/match). I was going to look for an article to prove this point but the following WP article is even better because it reminds us of the beautiful response of Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui when she found out she won bronze. Here's the article: Why bronze medalists are happier than silver medalists, and other things the Olympics teaches us about human emotions

Here is the video of Fu Yuanhui finding out about her bronze: 'What??! Third?' Hilarious moment Chinese swimmer finds out she has won the bronze medal in the middle of her 'defeat speech' in Rio 2016

[JustAnotherFan]

why do they continue to have a 3rd place game?  It's not like many people care which of the semifinal losers ends up 3rd vs 4th......

I was living in Germany during the 2002 World Cup when Germany lost to Brazil. Germany has a brobdingnagian Turkish population, and when Turkey beat S. Korea in the third place game they streamed into the streets and partied like they had just won the World Cup. The next day, when Brazil beat Germany, as soon as the game ended Brazilians and Germans and Turks all streamed into the streets to celebrate their teams. Even adjusting for the number of revelers for each nation, I believe the Turks were the happiest of the three. You'll never convince them that the third place game doesn't matter.

I dunno,  I'd be happier with third than second: end on a winning note, don't have to watch a higher team at the awards. Hoping for the best.

You're not the only one. Bronze medalists at the Olympics end up less disappointed than silver medalists for similar reasons (with or without an additional game/match). I was going to look for an article to prove this point but the following WP article is even better because it reminds us of the beautiful response of Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui when she found out she won bronze. Here's the article: Why bronze medalists are happier than silver medalists, and other things the Olympics teaches us about human emotions

Here is the video of Fu Yuanhui finding out about her bronze: 'What??! Third?' Hilarious moment Chinese swimmer finds out she has won the bronze medal in the middle of her 'defeat speech' in Rio 2016