France have won their first World Cup for twenty years
France have won the 2018 FIFA World Cup after beating Croatia 4-2.
The two sides both set up cautiosuly, with France opting to play Blaise Matuidi on the left to deal with the threat posed by Rebić, Modrić and Vrsaljko down Croatia’s right, and Zlatko Dalić opting to play Marcelo Brozović as a holding midfielder.
Fatigue was clearly no issue for Croatia as they dominated the opening stages and looked the sharper team, despite playing 120 minutes in all three previous knockout games, two of which went to penalties.
But it was France who broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, as an inswinging free kick from Antoine Griezmann took a slight deflection off Mario Mandžukić, to take it past Danijel Subašić.
Claims that Griezmann dived to win the free kick and that Pogba was offside as the ball swung in were waved away and France took full advantage.
It was a goal very much against the run of play, but Croatia didn’t have to wait long to level the scoring, as Ivan Perišić fired in an equaliser before the half hour mark to reignite the game.
But Perišić’s heroics were undone ten minutes later, when the ball struck his arm in the box and referee Nestor Pitana awarded a penalty after observing the incident for what felt like an age on the touchline monitor.
It was the first time we’d seen VAR for several games, yet it only further highlighted its flaws when making decisions on contentious handballs.
Croatia began the second half on the front foot, refusing to be disheartened by the controversial decision in the first half. But once again they were sucker-punched by France on the counter, as Kylian Mbappé broke in behind, played the ball inside to Griezmann, who laid it off to Pogba, who slotted the ball past Subašić with his left foot at the second time of asking.
Chaos followed, as France extended their lead to 4-1 before a Hugo Lloris clanger let Mandžukić reduce the lead to two.
France then brought on Corentin Tolisso for Blaise Matuidi in an attempt to calm the game down, having already brought on Steven N’Zonzi for the cautioned N’Golo Kanté.
Croatia continued to pour forward in their numbers, growing more frustrated with every half chance that passed them by. A refereeing decision once again was the source of their anger as Nestor Pitana forced Ivan Rakitić to retake a quick free kick. The Barcelona man dropped to the floor in frustration and sarcastically clapped towards the match official.
Eventually the game calmed down, as reality set in for the Croatian players who had fought tooth and nail throughout. They were worthy finalists, but ultimately undone by a France team who – despite not showing it nearly enough – can do everything.
