France seal World Cup triumph
France are champions of the world for a second time, after defeating Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Mario Mandzukic’s own goal gave France an 18th-minute lead, and Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé scored for Les Bleus. Goals to Ivan Perisic and Mandzukic gave Croatia hope, but France would not be denied their triumph.
Both sides were unchanged for the final. Didier Deschamps kept faith with Olivier Giroud, who has proved a strong link man for Mbappé and Griezmann but had yet to score for France in the tournament. Croatia had been taken to extra-time in each of their three knockout games but Zlatko Dalic kept intact the starting XI following the semi-final defeat of England.
In the opening stages Croatia pushed up impressively, attacking both flanks. Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Strinic combined well on the left as Benjamin Pavard was beaten but the best they could force was a corner which was cleared.
France continued to cede the initiative, Rakitic winning the ball and laying off for Luka Modric, who sprayed a fine ball to the left wing off the outside off his boot. Strinic and Perisic shuttled the ball into the box but Samuel Umtiti launched clear.
A theme was emerging, with Croatia targeting Pavard on the right. A counter-attack on the quarter-hour followed that pattern but a decent final ball could not be mustered.
during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.
Mbappé’s first few touches had not gone well, with one attempted backheel also causing trouble at the back. But when he found space to run at Strinic he showed his quality, darting past the full-back and into the box. His cutback was deflected away from its target but notice had been served.
France took the lead on 17 minutes. Griezmann delivered a free-kick into the Croatia box and as the ball drifted into a packed area Mandzukic flicked a header past his own goalkeeper.
A free-kick looked like Croatia’s best way back in, Domagoj Vida heading over shortly after the opening goal and Hugo Lloris needing to punch clear when Modric whipped a second delivery in from the left. Rakitic also tried his luck but mis-hit a volley from 20 yards.
N’Golo Kanté earned a booking in the 27th minute for a trip on Perisic but the true cost was more dramatic. From the free-kick Modric floated the ball towards the far post and it fell for Perisic at the edge of the area. He dragged the ball down away from Kanté and lashed past Lloris.
France, though, regained the lead when Griezmann sent a ball in for Pogba but Perisic’s contact proved decisive. Pogba and Giroud both insisted he had handled the ball and the referee signalled for a VAR review having considered the situation. After watching replays he returned and pointed at the spot. Griezmann sent Danijel Subasic the wrong way to put France 2-1 ahead.
With half-time approaching, Modric had another opportunity to send a free-kick into the area. Perisic met it first and Dejan Lovren won a corner. That led to the first of three corners in quick succession for Croatia. The last of the trio was most dangerous but Vida could only glance wide having taken advantage of Umtiti’s temporary absence through injury.
There was still time before the interval for Sime Vrsaljko to heave a cross into the area from the right. Perisic was outnumbered but might have made contact had he gambled at close range. Instead he allowed the ball to drop and the chance evaporated. France held a 2-1 lead at half-time.
There were chances at both ends in the first two minutes of the second half, but just before the hour Umtiti delivered a first-time pass upfield for Mbappé who fed Griezmann in the middle and when he was unable to get a shooting angle he offloaded to Pogba. The Manchester United midfielder’s first effort was blocked but when offered a second chance he fired past Subasic from the edge of the area.
After 65 minutes France were celebrating again, with their substitutes rushing the field of play at 4-1 up. Mbappé was the scorer, taking advantage of Vida’s decision not to close him down to send a low shot inside the post. Like Griezmann it was his fourth of the tournament.
Croatia seemed down and out until Lloris gifted them a possible lifeline. After picking up Umtiti’s back pass, the France captain dribbled round Mandzukic. The striker held his position and stuck out a leg to poke the ball over the line.
From that point on, though, France remained resolute to secure their second World Cup.
(Guardian)
