FRANCE -- THE NEW TSARS OF FOOTBALL
France defeated Croatia 4-2 in a six-goal thrilling FIFA World Cup 2018 final to clinch their first title in 20 years, their second overall.
Goals from Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and an own goal by Mario Mandzukic is what led Les Bleus to the World Cup Football 2018 title .
Croatia managed to equalise through Ivan Perisic in the first half, but failed to capitalise on the opportunity as the French dominated.
However, Modric's men got some consolation after Mario Mandzukic scored the nation's second goal, which was too little too late.
However, Modric's men got some consolation after Mario Mandzukic scored the nation's second goal, which was too little too late.
In a match that had a bit of everything, Mario Mandzukic scored the first ever own goal in a World Cup final to put France in front at the Luzhniki Stadium, only for Ivan Perisic to equalise.
France back in front after Perisic’s handball was penalised with the aid of the video assistant referee. Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe scored the other French goals in the second half.
The first team to score four times in a final since Brazil in 1970, the French could even afford to see Mandzukic pull a goal back following a ridiculous goalkeeping mistake by Hugo Lloris.
France join Uruguay and Argentina in winning the World Cup for the second time, after their 1998 triumph over Brazil when Didier Deschamps – now the coach – was the captain.
Deschamps becomes just the third man to win the trophy as a player and a coach, following in the footsteps of Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
Croatia played all the football early on, with Mbappe on the fringes of the game, but it was France who went in front in the 18th minute. Griezmann won a soft free-kick wide on the right and his delivery into the area was flicked into his own net by the unfortunate Mandzukic.
France join Uruguay and Argentina in winning the World Cup for the second time, after their 1998 triumph over Brazil when Didier Deschamps – now the coach – was the captain.
Deschamps becomes just the third man to win the trophy as a player and a coach, following in the footsteps of Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
Croatia played all the football early on, with Mbappe on the fringes of the game, but it was France who went in front in the 18th minute. Griezmann won a soft free-kick wide on the right and his delivery into the area was flicked into his own net by the unfortunate Mandzukic.
Their coach Zlatko Dalic looked rueful, but his team were back level just before the half-hour, Domagoj Vida laying the ball off for Perisic, who shuffled the ball from right foot to left before drilling a superb shot past Lloris with the aid of a touch off Raphael Varane. But Perisic was at the centre of the controversy that led to France’s second goal in the 38th minute.
Griezmann stroked home the penalty, his fourth goal of the competition and his third from a spot-kick.
Shortly after several pitch invaders briefly interrupted proceedings, the third French goal arrived in the 59th minute, with Pogba striking off a pass from Griezmann.
Mbappe then added his name to the scoresheet in the 65th minute when he fired low past Danijel Subasic.
Griezmann stroked home the penalty, his fourth goal of the competition and his third from a spot-kick.
Shortly after several pitch invaders briefly interrupted proceedings, the third French goal arrived in the 59th minute, with Pogba striking off a pass from Griezmann.
Mbappe then added his name to the scoresheet in the 65th minute when he fired low past Danijel Subasic.
France are the new tsars of football after they defeated a gusty Croatia and the rest of the globe 4-2 to win the 21st FIFA World Cup here on Sunday. The French attained football nirvana for the second time after having gone all the way at home in 1998. Just like Belgium and England in the semifinals, Croatia paid the price for not making their first-half dominance count.
Willed on by all homo sapiens except the French variety, Croatia fought like warriors but the comeback kings of the tournament could not conjure another famous rally. There was no shame in going down after such a fight, although the better team of the night lost. After a 1-0 result in the final of the last two World Cups, Russia has supplied the highest scoring decider since Argentina’s 3-2 win in 1986.
Willed on by all homo sapiens except the French variety, Croatia fought like warriors but the comeback kings of the tournament could not conjure another famous rally. There was no shame in going down after such a fight, although the better team of the night lost. After a 1-0 result in the final of the last two World Cups, Russia has supplied the highest scoring decider since Argentina’s 3-2 win in 1986.
France were lucky to go into the break with a 2-1 lead because Croatia were clearly superior in the entire half. The tentative French appeared particularly vulnerable in the air. But it was Les Bleus that went ahead in the 18th minute through a familiar route. Antoine Griezmann floated in a free kick, which he had questionably won just outside the box on the right, and Mario Mandzukic headed the ball into his own net. The hero of Croatia’s semifinal win lost sight of the ball by Raphael Varane’s eleventh-minute run across.
Until then, France hadn’t done anything of note to deserve the lead. But that is football, which can punish the slightest lapse in concentration so ruthlessly. For the third knockout match in a row, France scored a goal off a Griezmann’s free kick from almost the same position.
But Croatia, who had come back from a goal down in all their knock-out matches here, hit back with a fine goal 10 minutes later. A Luka Modric free kick reached Perisic near the centre of the box after three touches and the Inter forward moved the ball away from his right foot to the left before blasting it past the French goalkeeper with a diagonal shot.
The majestic Luzhniki Stadium, a veritable Russian monument, struggled to stay intact with the eruption of Croatian celebrations. It was like a home match for Croatia who had monopolised the stands. The goal was the least the enterprising Balkan nation deserved.
Perisic then played a part in a goal at the other end, as he conceded a penalty with a handball off a corner. Griezmann rolled the ball past the Croatian goalie to score his third penalty of the tournament and fourth overall.
The first half served as the perfect appetizer for a compelling second. Ante Rebic of Croatia drew a superb save from Hugo Lloris after with a superb first-time shot from the left after being set up by Ivan Rakitic beautifully. France, all of a sudden, came alive with two goals in six minutes by the hour mark to stun their opponents. Midfielder Paul Pogba opened his account in Russia with a crisp shot after his initial effort had been blocked.
Kylian Mbappe had done the spadework for the third with some nifty work on the right. And the teenage sensation got into the act himself with a goal from outside the box. With no marker around him after he received the ball from the excellent Lucas Hernandez, his job was to pick his spot. And, he did that with aplomb to become the first teenager to score in the final since Pele in 1958.
A horrendous mistake by Lloris in the 69th minute provided a glimmer of hope to Croatia. The French goalie cleared an innocuous back pass into the boot of Mandzukic to allow the Croatian to expiate his guilty feelings for the own goal. Although Croatia put France under tremendous pressure, another comeback eluded the most resilient team of the competition. It was the end of a poignant story.
Didier Deschamps, captain of the victorious French team in 1998, joined Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer on the list of World Cup winners both as a player and coach. And, his defender Varane has now won the World Cup after nailing the Champions League with Real earlier this season.
Until then, France hadn’t done anything of note to deserve the lead. But that is football, which can punish the slightest lapse in concentration so ruthlessly. For the third knockout match in a row, France scored a goal off a Griezmann’s free kick from almost the same position.
But Croatia, who had come back from a goal down in all their knock-out matches here, hit back with a fine goal 10 minutes later. A Luka Modric free kick reached Perisic near the centre of the box after three touches and the Inter forward moved the ball away from his right foot to the left before blasting it past the French goalkeeper with a diagonal shot.
The majestic Luzhniki Stadium, a veritable Russian monument, struggled to stay intact with the eruption of Croatian celebrations. It was like a home match for Croatia who had monopolised the stands. The goal was the least the enterprising Balkan nation deserved.
Perisic then played a part in a goal at the other end, as he conceded a penalty with a handball off a corner. Griezmann rolled the ball past the Croatian goalie to score his third penalty of the tournament and fourth overall.
The first half served as the perfect appetizer for a compelling second. Ante Rebic of Croatia drew a superb save from Hugo Lloris after with a superb first-time shot from the left after being set up by Ivan Rakitic beautifully. France, all of a sudden, came alive with two goals in six minutes by the hour mark to stun their opponents. Midfielder Paul Pogba opened his account in Russia with a crisp shot after his initial effort had been blocked.
Kylian Mbappe had done the spadework for the third with some nifty work on the right. And the teenage sensation got into the act himself with a goal from outside the box. With no marker around him after he received the ball from the excellent Lucas Hernandez, his job was to pick his spot. And, he did that with aplomb to become the first teenager to score in the final since Pele in 1958.
A horrendous mistake by Lloris in the 69th minute provided a glimmer of hope to Croatia. The French goalie cleared an innocuous back pass into the boot of Mandzukic to allow the Croatian to expiate his guilty feelings for the own goal. Although Croatia put France under tremendous pressure, another comeback eluded the most resilient team of the competition. It was the end of a poignant story.
Didier Deschamps, captain of the victorious French team in 1998, joined Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer on the list of World Cup winners both as a player and coach. And, his defender Varane has now won the World Cup after nailing the Champions League with Real earlier this season.
However we were lucky to have witnessed 6 goals scored in a World Cup Football Final. 1958 World Cup record still stands, which fetched 7 goals wherein Brazil defeated Sweden 5-2. Legendary Pele scored 2 -- one on 55th and the second one dot on 90th minute respectively!!!!!
The game will be remembered for 6 goals scored in a World Cup final same as England’s win over West Germany 4-2 in 1966, and for Mbappe becoming the youngest player to score in the final since Pele in 1958.
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