France beat Croatia to win 2018 Fifa World Cup in Moscow

France's Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy as they celebrate winning the FIFA World Cup 2018. Photo: REUTERS

France beat Croatia 4-2 at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, to win the 2018 Fifa World Cup champions and a second title in their history.

The vastly talented Les Blues were the favourites going into the final against a gritty Croatian side that had withstood the rigorous of playing all their knockout matches well into extra-time.

And that quality shone in the clash played in front of an electric atmosphere in the 78,000-seater stadium just by the river Moscow.

Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba’s stunning finish and a sumptuous goal by Kylian Mbappe coming after Mario Mandzukic’s freak own-goal was too much for the Croats.

Ivan Perisic drilled in on 30 minutes to bring Croatia on level terms after the 18th minute own-goal set back.

20 years ago, Didier Deschamps lifted the trophy as the captain of the French team. Today, he'll lift it as the coach.

Although Mandzukic capitalised on an error by France goalkeeper Hugo Loris to reduce the deficit, it would prove to be a mere statistic at the end of tie.

France arrived in Moscow as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, but their performance had not convinced many they would go all the way having struggled through the group phase.

It is only after dispatching a poor Argentina 4-3 at the second round that fans sat up to notice a French side that was gathering steam towards a fourth final.

After a 2-0 win over Uruguay in the quarterfinal and a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Belgium in the semis, a final showdown against fatigued Croatia was theirs to lose.

Croatia were, however, no pushovers in the early stages of the match, starting the clash in the best way possible by pinning the French in their own half.

Two of Croatia’s fullbacks Sime Vrsalko on the right and Ivan Strinic on the left played high up the pitch putting France under pressure early on.

Kylian Mbappe drives in France's fourth goal. Getty Images

Zlatko Dalic’s men responded well to France’s goal with Ivan Perisic time and again dictating the tempo of the game.

But against the run of play, France took the lead via a freak own-goal by Mandzukic, who glanced into the top right corner from Griezmann’s swerving free-kick.

It was a sharp climb down from the ante Croatia had set having taken the game by the scruff of its neck from kick off.

And like it has been with their determination throughout the tournament, Croatia found a way back into the game at the 30 minute mark through Perisic’s brilliant finish..

After being fouled way outside the French area, Luka Modric floated a dicey free-kick which Šime Vrsaljko headed across goal to find Perisic, who created space for himself to drilled in the leveler.

France, however, were back in the lead not long after via Antoine Griezmann’s 38th minute clinical penalty.

France won a corner, which Griezmann whipped in at the near post only for Perisic to guide the ball away with his hand from Blaise Matuidi’s waiting head.

Referee Nestor Pitana needed the assistance of the Video Assistant Referees to call for the penalty amid protests from the Croats.

Griezmann stepped up to roll the ball into the net with aplomb just before the break.

Croatia, who have confounded many here for keeping themselves fresh throughout the tournament came back stronger in the second half.

However, France had other ideas, quickly wrestling the game out Croatia’s hands through quick fire goals from Pogba and Mbappe.

The Manchester United midfielder received the ball inside the Croatia box, but his initial attempt rebounded to him and before calmly curling it with his left foot for France third in the 59th minute.

Croatia were rattled and for a moment looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

France dictated the pace of the game with Griezmann’s speed troubling the plucky Croats.

Mbappe picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, glided towards the Croatia territory before sending a fizzing shot past Subasic into the bottom left-hand corner in the 69th minute.

It threatened to be a procession to World Cup history for France until Croatia momentarily pegged back Didier Deschamps men with a goal of their own.

Mandzukic capitalised on some shocking goalkeeping error by Lloris to pause France’s celebrations in the 69th minute.

A grand finish would not materialise though as France cantered to their second title, 20 years after their first on home soil where they had hammered Brazil 3-0 in the final.

With the victory, Deschamps became only the third man to win the Fifa World Cup as player and coach.

Brazil’s Mario Zagallo won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962 and then as a manager in 1970. Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer is the other man to have won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as a player in 1990.

 

Griezmann A.(Penalty) 39')

France

1 –Hugo Lloris, 4 -Raphael Varane, 5 -Samuel Umtiti, 21 -Lucas Hernández

2 -Benjamin Pavard, 14 –Blaise Matuidi, 6 –Paul Pogba, 13 –N’Golo Kanté, 9 –Olivier Giroud, 7-Antoine Griezmann, 10 –Kylian Mbappé,

Coach: Didier Deschamps

Subs Not Used

3-Presnel Kimpembe           , 8-Thomas Lemar, 11-Ousmane Dembélé, 12-Corentin Tolisso, 15-Steve N'Zonzi, 16-Stephen Mandanda, 17-Adil Rami, 18-Nabil Fekir, 19-D. Sidibé, 20-Florian Thauvin, 22-Benjamin Mendy, 23-Alphonse Areola

 

Croatia

23 -Danijel Subaši?, 21 -Domagoj Vida, 3 –Ivan Strini?, 6 -Dejan Lovren, 2-Šime Vrsaljko, 10 -Luka Modri?, 7-Ivan Rakiti?, 4 -Ivan Periši?, 11 -Marcelo Brozovi?, 17 -Mario Mandžuki?, 18 -Ante Rebi?  

Coach: Zlatko Dali?

1-Dominik Livakovi?, 5 Vedran ?orluka, 8 -Mateo Kova?i?, 9-Andrej Kramari?, 12-Lovre Kalini?, 13-Tin Jedvaj, 14-Filip Bradari?, 15-Duje ?aleta-Car, 19-Mila Badelj, 20-Marko Pjaca, 22-Josip Pivari?

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was used for the first time in a World Cup final to award France a 38th-minute penalty which Antoine Griezmann scored to give them a 2-1 lead over Croatia on Sunday.

Referee Nestor Pitana was alerted to a possible handball and after checking the off-field screen he decided Ivan Perisic had handled the ball in trying to clear a French set-piece.

Mandzukic M.(Own goal) 18'

The match at the Luzhniki Stadium had already seen the first own goal in a World Cup final when the ball flicked off Croatia striker Mario Manduzkic and past his own keeper to put France 1-0 up after 18 minutes.

Perisic 28'

FIFA has declared the use of VAR at the World Cup in Russia a success.