Supp. Twenty Five: World Cup Final Review - France vs Croatia

And so the curtain has been drawn on over a month of unceasing, enthralling and heart stopping football. After 63 matches, the slots of ‘Semi Final One and Two winners’ in World Cup wall charts across the planet were filled; and the hugely anticipated climax of the World’s greatest sporting event saw Didier Deschamps France take on Zlatko Dalics’ ‘Vatreni’ or ‘Blazers’ in surprise package Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium.

The larger than life stadium has been open since 1956, and has seen dozens of infamous sporting spectacles - the 2008 Champions League Final where John Terry slipped and Manchester United climbed to the pinnacle of European Football for the third time being the most notable football related occurrence within the confines of the 81,000 capacity ground.

Today the stadium pitted a strong French side against a tired but exciting Croatian set up which had gone through its fair share of battles in its path to attempted glory on the last day. Going into the clash, it seemed an at least 70/30 split in favour for the French and an unchanged starting side was named to take the field - the same went for Croatia, as Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic kept a remarkable record alive that has seen an Inter Milan player appear in every final since 1982. Perisic’s involvement would be crucial throughout, but it was fellow Serie A forward Mario Mandzukic who conceded first blood a quarter of an hour in after a lucky Griezmann free kick win 25 yards out. The 27 year old delivered and the ball was turned in by, at first glance, Raphael Varane who made a marauding run across the box - on closer reflection it had in fact come off Mandzukic’s head. Nevertheless, Subasic was beaten and France had gained an undeserved lead against the run of play.

Croatia hit back swiftly and smartly as they continued to keep possession well against a French team which was sitting remarkably deep. The ambidextrous Ivan Perisic levelled the tie after a wonder strike from his left foot on the edge of the box - Croatia looked good value for a lead until Perisic, involved again at the other end, made contact with his hand and a VAR assisted decision saw the French awarded a penalty many saw as fortuitous. Antoine Griezmann cooly converted and somehow France had a lead.

Les Bleus made it to the break a goal up after keeping Croatia out for much of the first half, but 14 minutes into the second period a sumptuous Paul Pogba pass sent Kylian Mbappe through on goal, and when the ball was returned the Manchester United number 6 dispatched it with his weak foot at the second time of asking beyond Subasic; the goal just reward for his consistent stellar performances throughout the seven game tournament, and like Mbappe, Pogba was excellent on the biggest stage feasible. The 19 year old starlet Mbappe also had his moment however, when he used Vida to deceive Subasic and shot a darting effort into the bottom corner from some distance, becoming the second teenager to score in a final; the other being Pele. At 4-1 up France were cruising to victory and despite Hugo Lloris’ howler which saw Mandzukic become the fourth player to score in a Champions League and World Cup Final, a win was never really in doubt as Kante, Matuidi and Giroud left the field in the closing period and France shut up shop. Five minutes added time came and went and when the referee Nestor Pitana blew his whistle and brought a conclusion to the tournament the French coaching and playing staff sped onto the pitch in joyous celebrations. France deserved to win in the end, and Deschamps’ pragmatism proved fruitful at the end of the day.

Croatia will undoubtedly feel hard done by as their ‘golden generation’ watched on to see their World Cup dream evaporate - it will surely be Luka Modric’s last tournament and he goes out with the golden ball, emblematic of his great contribution to his countries deep and unexpected run in the tournament. They gave an excellent account of themselves throughout and especially in the final, but France were simply a cut above, deserved World Cup winners - it will be thrilling to see where this incredibly young side, the second youngest at the tournament, can go next.