A young and dynamic France thumped an inspired Croatia in 2018 World Cup final 4-2 to lift the golden trophy after 1998. Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba both scored for France in the second half that took the game away from Croatia at the Luzinkhi stadium in Moscow. In the process, France became the 6th nation to claim the FIFA world cup for two times.
Earlier in the match, France break the shackles in the 18′ minute when a free kick was awarded to them after a foul by Croatia. A focussed Griezmann fired the ball in which Mandukic headed over Subasic into his own goal to give 1-0 lead to France. Croatia were always the comeback team and they hit back strong with some impressive attacks. In the 27′ minute Croatia got a free kick which Luka Modric fired on the right side of the goal. There were some desperate series of headers but it was Ivan Perisic who got some space and fired the ball in to find an equalizer for Croatia in 28′ minute.
The two early goal had set it up nicely for a goal fest in Moscow as both the teams kept building attacks on opposition goal. In the 34′ minute Antoine Griezmann’s corner came to Matuidi in the area and his header went wide of the near post. The French men screamed for the hand ball and it went down to test VAR. In the video replay it was a clear handball by Croat defender and France got a penalty and possibly a chance to take the lead before half time.
Griezmann took the penalty and calmly rolled it left as Subasic dives to his own left. France were up ahead by 2-1 after the end of half time.
Second half
In the second half, France looked more dominant team out of the two as Kylian Mbappe managed some quick runs that panicked the Croat defence. In the 61′ minute, Mbappe was again in action as he cut the ball back to Griezmann near the spot. Griezmann juggled the ball and passed it to Paul Pogba who took a shot but it was eventually blocked. However, he came back stronger and no one could really react to his second fiery shot that gave 3-1 lead to France.
Things were looking good for France but Mbappe made it look the best when he striked in the 65′ minute of the game that was the 100th goal of the tournament. With this goal he became the second teenage goal scorer in world cup finals.
Croatia’s chances looked grim after a three goal advantage over them but a comic error by France’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris lazily tried to touch the ball around a pressing Mandzukic as he tried to deceive him and played the ball right side off the Croat striker. Mandzukic was alert to put it right back past Lloris into his net to score the second goal for Croatia.
The Luka Modric’s men got a new lifeline as they kept building attacks to find two more goals in 90 minute to take the game to extra time, which was always going to be an edge advantage for Croatia, considering they had allready played three matches in the extra time earlier. However, France defence was in no mood to do any comic error like their goalkeeper Lloris as they contained Croatia to 2 goals and win their second ever world cup. The French players and the fans went berserk as soon as the final whistle was blown, the celebration begins.
2018 World Cup final- Highlights
Mario Mandzukic(Own goal) 18′- France 1-0
Ivan Perisic 28′- France 1-1 Croatia
Antoine Griezmann(Penalty) 38′- France 2-1 Croatia
Paul Pogba 59′- France 3-1 Croatia
Kylian Mbappe 65′- France 4-1 Croatia
Mario Mandzukic 69′- France 4-2 Croatia
