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World Cup Final 2018: France vs Croatia, live coverage from Luzhniki Stadium

France survive a goalkeeping howler to defeat a tenacious Croatia 4-2 and capture a second World Cup trophy.

Ray Gatt
25 min read
2:52AMJuly 16, 2018.
Updated 3:25AMJuly 16, 2018
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Didier Deschamps is hoisted aloft by France players after their World Cup final victory over Croatia.
Didier Deschamps is hoisted aloft by France players after their World Cup final victory over Croatia.

Welcome to live coverage of the 2018 World Cup final between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. France has won the World Cup with a 4-2 victory.

Ray Gatt 3.04am: Double for Deschamps

And here’s one final interesting fact that involves Australia.In the five World Cup finals the Socceroos have competed in they have played the eventual winners in the group stage in three of them — 1974 West Germany, 2006 Italy and 2018 France!

FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.58am: Double for Deschamps

France’s win marks a remarkable achievement for coach Didier Deschamps who joins the legendary duo Mario Zagallo (Brazil) and Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) as the only men to have won the World Cup both as a player and a coach. He captained France in their 1998 victory.

FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.55am: Five minutes remaining

It’s over.

France are the new World Champions after beating plucky Croatia 4-2 in an extraordinary final in Russia. It comes 20 years after the French won their first World Cup on home soil in 1998.

The French, who were short priced favourites at kick off, were far from impressive, with the scoreline no indication of the run of the game.

This match had everything from VAR intervention, to own goals and a pitch invasion by three fans. Croatians will be devastated but they should very proud of their team. It was a wonderful performance from them.

FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.50am: Five minutes remaining

We will have five minutes of injury time. But it is a lost cause for Croatia, who have given it their best shot but will fall short in their first final.

Paris will be going off as the French celebrate their second World Cup in 20 years.

FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.47am: Time running out for Croatia

Croatia need a miracle.

We are now into the final two minutes (plus injury time) and they need to score twice just to take the game into extra time.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.41am: Reinforcements for both teams

France make a third change with Nabil Fekir coming on for Olivier Giroud while Croatia also go to the bench with Marko Pjaca replacing Ivan Strinic. We have juyst under eight minutes plus injury time left in this extraordinary game.

FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.38am: Rakitic has a crack

Close call there for France as Ivan Rakitic fires in a shot that just goes past the right post.

The Croatians are not going to die wondering. They have nothing to lose now and will continue to charge forward.

FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.30am: ‘Crazy final has had it all’

We have 20 minutes left in this crazy final that has had it all from VAR to own goals, to pitch invaders to goalkeeping brain snaps.

Croatia make a change with Andrej Kramaric replacing Ante Rebic.

FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.28am: GOAL! Keeper’s blunder makes it 4-2

GOAL. Croatia. What a blunder from Hugo Lloris. Mario Mandzukic makes the goalkeeper pay for the blunder of the tournament.

Lloris got a back pass and had plenty of time to clear it, but instead he dallied on the ball, tried to be too cute and Mandzukic made him pay.

FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.24am: GOAL! France 4-1

GOAL. France. It is 4-1 now and no way back for Croatia.

Kylian Mbappe scores with a wonderful effort from outside the box.

FRANCE 4-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.22am: Can the Croatians lift?

It’s a long, long way back for the Croatians now.

They have to lift somehow. The problem will be that they will have to go forward in numbers and risk leaving themselves exposed at the back.

France will relish that through the likes of Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

FRANCE 3-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.20am: GOAL! France 3-1

GOAL. France. It is 3-1 now as Paul Pogba scores. And that is a devastating blow for Croatia.

It came after a wonderful through ball from Pogba to Kylian Mbappe on the right. He then cut inside and laid the ball across goal. Antoine Griezmann plays it back to Pogba, who sees his first attempt with his right foot blocked but the ball falls back at his feet and this time he puts it away with his left foot from just inside the penalty area.

FRANCE 3-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.13am: Kante off for France

Interesting that the French have already gone to their bench with Steven Nzoni replacing N’Golo Kante in the 54th minute.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.12am: Pitch invaded

There’s drama as not one but three or four fans have jumped the fence and run on to the field.

Play is halted but questions have to be asked how they managed to do that with so much security circling the pitch.

The idiots have been cleared and play is under way again

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.11am: Croatia dominate play

More pressure from the Croatians as they win another corner but this time the French have no problems learing the danger before the red and white check shirts come back again in another wave of attacks.

The opening six minutes of the half have been dominated by Croatia.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.07am: Rebic shot saved

Croatia, not surprisingly, come out firing.

Ante Rebic’s left foot effort is turned over the bar by Hugo Lloris.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2.05am: Underway in second half

What will the second 45 minutes bring us?

Croatia were excellent in the first half. If they continue in the same vein then France will be in for a tough time.

It should be remembered that the Croatians have come from behind in their past three games — Denmark, Russia and England.

They are more than capable of doing it again as the French get the second half underway.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 2am: New Cup record

Some interesting statistics to emerge from the first half.

This is the first time since 1974 that three goals have been scored in the first half of a final and it is the first World Cup final with three goals since 1998, when France won their only World Cup final to date.

Ray Gatt 1.49am: HALF-TIME — France 2-1 Croatia

And that is half-time.

It is 2-1 France in what has been an intriguing first 45 minutes.

Croatia have done superbly and don’t deserve to be behind. They have paid the price through two set pieces.

Incredibly, Croatia have had something like 60 per cent of possession, something few would have predicted at the start of the game.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.47am: Croatia turn up the heat

The Croatians have really turned up the pressure here. The French are under seige in their own penalty area as the Croatians win three quick corners in succession. France had problems clearing the first two before the third one goes for a goal kick to France.

There will be three minutes added time for this half as the storm clouds start to circle the stadium.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.44am: Crucial time for Croatia

They might lead but France have been unconvincing with their goals have come from set pieces.

This is a crucial time for the Croatians, five minutes from half time. They have served it up to the French and will be looking to strike a blow before the half time break.

You wonder if the fact they have got the lead again will help the French to lift their game as they have not looked at all good so far.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.38am: GOAL! France 2-1

Drama. It looks like there could be a penalty to France for handball. France won a corner on the right. Antoine Griezmann floated the ball in and Ivan Perisic clearly handled the ball. The referee waved play on, but the French players protested and the the referee got the call from the VAR to review it.

PENALTY to France after the VAR review

GOAL. France. Antoine Griezmann, cool and collected, slots it past Danijel Subasic. It’s 2-1 France after 38 minutes.

FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.33am: French yet to hit their stride

We have a game on our hands here.

It can’t be said that the goal wasn’t deserved as the Croatians have looked the better side, more controlled in defence and more positive in attack.

The French just haven’t hit their stride yet with key players Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe having very little influence at this stage, save for Griezmann’s delivery of the free kick that lead to Mario Mandzukic’s own goal.

We are into the 32nd minute and it’s 1-1.

FRANCE 1-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.30am: GOAL! Perisic equalises

GOAL. Croatia. They are level after that man Ivan Perisic slams a wonderful left foot effort into the back of the net.

It comes after the first card of the game as N’Golo Kante goes into the referee’s book after a foul on Perisic. The free kick was in a dangerous attacking area.

It was floated to the far post. The cross came in and the French defence failed to deal with it.

FRANCE 1-1 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.25am: Vida gets a head on it

Croatia look to strike back quickly as they get a free kick almost in an identical area as the one France had. Luka Modric swings it and Domagoj Vida climbs well to get his head to the ball but it sails harmlessly over the bar.

That goal has done little to knock the confidence of the Croatians. They continue to go on the attack again and Ivan Rakitic tries an audacious volley that goes well wide.

FRANCE 1-0 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.19am: GOAL! France 1-0

GOAL. France strike first blood. They get a free kick in a good, attacking area and Antoine Griezmann floats it in, where Mario Mandzukic heads it into his own net.

That’s a crushing blow for the Croatians who had looked the better side until then.

It’s 1-0 France after 19 minutes

FRANCE 1-0 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.13am: Modric looking the goods

Croatia, playing in their traditional chequerboard jersey, have started the game a little more positively than the French. They have had most of the possession and have France on the backfoot a little.

The French have barely been out of their own half. The good sign for the Croatians is that playmaker Luka Modric is looking the goods so far.

FRANCE 0-0 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1.10am: Croatia win first corner

The first corner of the game goes to Croatia. Luka Modric swings it in from the left. It comes in at the near post but is cleared by the French defence.

The pressure is relieved with France getting a free kick, their fourth of the game already as we approach the 10 minute mark.

FRANCE 0-0 CROATIA

Croatia's Mario Mandzukic, left, gestures next to France's Raphael Varane during the World Cup final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Photo: AP
Croatia's Mario Mandzukic, left, gestures next to France's Raphael Varane during the World Cup final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Photo: AP

Ray Gatt 1.05am: Early nerves for both teams

It’s been an untidy start in the opening five minutes with neither side holding on to the ball long enough to make a real impression. Obviously there are some nerves at play early on.

FRANCE 0-0 CROATIA

Ray Gatt 1am: We’re underway at the Luzhniki

After 63 games and 31 days, here we are ready to kick off the final of the 2018 World Cup as France attempt to add a second World Cup trophy to their record, while sentimental favourites Croatia look to create history by winning their first.

It’s a full house as Croatia get the game underway.

FRANCE 0-0 CROATIA

12.46am: Will Smith warms up the crowd

12.40am: The venue — Luzhniki Stadium

Here’s the venue for tonight’s World Cup final between France and Croatia.

Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium is a 78,000-seat venue that was the main venue for the 1980 Olympics.

After hosting the 2013 World Athletics Championships, it underwent a major revamp ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Inside the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow ahead of the 2018 World Cup final. Photo: Getty Images
Inside the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow ahead of the 2018 World Cup final. Photo: Getty Images

12.30am: France, Croatia formations

France and Croatia will employ identical 4-2-3-1 formations in tonight’s World Cup final, with Olivier Giroud (France) and Mario Mandzukic (Croatia) heading the attacking lines for their teams.

For France, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante will do the grunt work in their holding midfield roles behind the pacy attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Blaise Matuidi. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will captain the team, marshalling the defensive quartet of Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Hernandez.

Croatia captain Luka Modric will be his team’s talisman in attack in the middle of an attacking midfield trio that also includes Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebic. Ivan Rakitic and Marcelo Brozovic are the holding midfielders, with goalkeeper Danijel Subasic supported by defenders Sime Vrsaljko, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida and Ivan Strinic.

12.15am: Goalless Giroud the key?

France centre forward Olivier Giroud has failed to score at the World Cup in Russia but is still a vital cog in their plans for tonight’s final against Croatia in Moscow.

While goal will be high priority for the 31-year-old striker, his play is about much more than just finishing as displayed in a semi-final performance against Belgium.

Giroud was central to coach Didier Deschamps’ plans, dropping deep into midfield to start a defensive block that kept the Belgians from better utilising all the possession they had.

When France went onto the counter-attack, Giroud was often the decoy, drawing defenders to create space for teammates.

“It’s true Olivier hasn’t scored yet. I repeat yet,” said Deschamps last week. “He is important for our style, we need his supporting play. It’s good if he scores but Olivier is always very generous and doesn’t complain about working hard.

“He might not have the flamboyant style but the team needs him even if he doesn’t score.”

France coach Didier Deschamps (right) greets Olivier Giroud as he leaves the field in the semi-final victory over Belgium. Photo: AFP
France coach Didier Deschamps (right) greets Olivier Giroud as he leaves the field in the semi-final victory over Belgium. Photo: AFP

REUTERS

12am: Tyler tips ‘sensible’ French

Calling the World Cup final for SBS tonight will be Martin Tyler — and he’s tipping a French victory.

However, he said Croatia should not be underestimated.

“They (Croatia) play with something extra. They found something extra in that last hour against England and they’ll have to do it again today — because I think France have been the most ‘sensible’ team, if you like, the most ‘serene’ team in a very topsy-turvy World Cup,” Tyler said in a pre-match interview.

“They weren’t great at the start, but that’s usually a good sign as long as you get through, but they (only) get three goals in the group — an own goal and a penalty against Australia, a VAR penalty as well, so they weren’t sensational but they were steady and they’ve got better and better.

“They probably edge it for most people but Croatia, you can’t say that they’ve got no chance, they’ve got real heart and real ability and a lot of players who have played in big finals before for their clubs, so they won’t be scared of this.”

1.45pm: Croatia’s march ‘a miracle’

Croatia’s march to the World Cup final is nothing short of a miracle and reflects the efforts of European soccer’s governing body to develop the sport across the continent, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says.

With a population of 4.2 million people as of 2016, Croatia is the smallest country to reach the title clash since Uruguay in 1950 and Ceferin is pleased to see smaller nations enjoy the spotlight on the global stage. Croatia, who made the last four at the 1998 World Cup, face that year’s eventual winners France in tonight’s final.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin (left), General Secretary of the Royal Belgian Football Association Geradrd Linard (centre) and Belgium's Foreign Minister Didier Reynders attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup third place playoff between Belgium and England at Saint Petersburg Stadium. Photo: Getty Images
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin (left), General Secretary of the Royal Belgian Football Association Geradrd Linard (centre) and Belgium's Foreign Minister Didier Reynders attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup third place playoff between Belgium and England at Saint Petersburg Stadium. Photo: Getty Images

“It’s absolutely a good thing and again proves the good work in European football,” Ceferin told Russian broadcaster Russia Today.

“For a nation of four million people it’s a miracle to come to the World Cup final. They have showed so much heart, so much passion, so much fighting spirit that I wouldn’t say that they can’t win on Sunday.”

Six out of eight quarter-finalists in the current tournament have been from Europe and Ceferin is not surprised by the dominance of European countries in Russia.

“UEFA are doing a good job, not since I’m here or because I’m here, but because they are approaching the development of football a little bit differently so the gap will be wider and wider,” Ceferin added.

“We generate a lot of money with all of our competitions. We allocate the money properly. We have coaching conventions. We work with former players who help national associations. We work on good governance.

“We invest in projects on infrastructure, in the development of football’s technical sector... we see that it’s the right way to have success and development of football.”

REUTERS

11.33pm: The teams are in

11.30pm: How the bookie sees it

The oddsmakers have made France a warm favourite to win tonight’s World Cup final against Croatia.

Online bookmaker PointsBet has France a $2.00 favourite to win the match, with the draw paying $3.15 and a Croatia victory $4.20.

In PointsBet’s draw no bet market, in which bets are refunded in the event of a draw at the end of regular time, France is a $1.41 favourite, with Croatia $2.93.

France striker Antoine Griezmann is a $5.50 favourite to be the first goalscorer of the match, ahead of his teenage teammate Kylian Mbappe ($6.00). No goalscorer is paying $6.50, with the French trio of Olivier Giroud ($6.75), Nabil Fekir ($8.00) and Ousmane Dembele ($9.00) next in betting.

If you think Croatia will be the first to open the scoring tonight, PointsBet is offering $9.50 for Mario Mandzukic to be that man.

PointsBet is also offering an Elite Odds of $2.00 for either Griezmann or Mbappe to score a goal during regular time.

Goalscoring threats ... French forwards Kylian Mbappe (left) and Olivier Giroud. Photo: AFP
Goalscoring threats ... French forwards Kylian Mbappe (left) and Olivier Giroud. Photo: AFP

11.15pm: Deschamps calm and confident

France coach Didier Deschamps has instructed his players in his own version of the three Cs — calm, confidence and concentration — as preparation for tonight’s World Cup final against Croatia.

The French are favourites to win the World Cup when they take on the Croatians at Luzhniki Stadium but Deschamps is well aware they were also fancied to beat Portugal in the EURO 2016 final, which they lost.

Deschamps revealed he had come up with a variation on the industry model for success — company, customers and competitors — to help his players deal with the pressures of playing such a big game.

“It’s a huge pleasure and privilege to play in such a match, there’s nothing more beautiful as a professional football player than to play in the World Cup final,” he said.

“We have prepared them as best we can. We must stay calm, we must have confidence and we must concentrate; these are the three words we’ve have been focusing on to get them ready for the final.”

France coach Didier Deschamps watches over his players at a training session ahead of tonight’s World Cup final against Croatia. Photo: AFP
France coach Didier Deschamps watches over his players at a training session ahead of tonight’s World Cup final against Croatia. Photo: AFP

Deschamps said France were a very different team than the one that lost to Portugal in Paris two years ago.

“The 14 players I have integrated since the Euro final, they have only learned what playing a big tournament is all about here in Russia, so of course the experience is less but the quality is there,” he added.

“Croatia has players with great club experience and their squad has been together for a long time but every team we’ve faced here has been more experienced.”

Still, he thought, the nine players who were in the squad at EURO 2016 would ensure the French team for tonight’s match would learn lessons from the experience of that final, if only to pass on how it felt to lose such a big match.

Deschamps captained France to victory in their first World Cup final in 1998 and on Sunday could join Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer as the only men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach.

REUTERS

11pm: Croatia fit and ready to fire

Croatia have no major injury concerns going into the World Cup final despite having played three successive 120-minute matches and are looking forward to a seismic event for the small Balkan nation, coach Zlatko Dalic said.

The Croatians needed penalties to beat Denmark in the round of 16 and Russia in the quarter-finals and extra time to edge England in the last four. Forward Mario Mandzukic and defender Ivan Strinic had to be taken off injured late in that game.

Croatia defender Ivan Strinic (centreC) receives medical assistance during the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match against England. Photo: AFP
Croatia defender Ivan Strinic (centreC) receives medical assistance during the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match against England. Photo: AFP

However, Dalic said that despite five players missing Friday’s training all his group were fit.

Croatia played a total of 90 minutes longer than France in their three knockout matches and have had one fewer rest day than their opponents before Sunday’s final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

This is Croatia’s first final in a major tournament and Dalic said that while he was not getting the full picture of the celebrations back home he knew that for his players, many of whom have won the biggest prizes in club football, this was the greatest match of their career.

“Win or lose tomorrow there will be a seismic event (in Croatia). This gives us strength and motivation,” he said.

“There can be no better moment for a player or a coach. Whatever happens, we will be happy and proud because we deserved it.”

The 1998 World Cup semi-final defeat to France and Croatia’s failure to beat the French in all of their five previous encounters also meant nothing to Dalic and his players.

“I do not give much thought to statistics and tradition and to head-to-head,” Dalic said.

“Traditions are there to be demolished. We don’t care who is on the other side of the pitch. We are here to enjoy the final and give our best.”

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic (left) speaks to star forward Ivan Perisic during a training session at the Roschino Arena ahead of the World Cup final. Photo: AFP
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic (left) speaks to star forward Ivan Perisic during a training session at the Roschino Arena ahead of the World Cup final. Photo: AFP

REUTERS

10.35pm: France steps up security

Excitement is building in France ahead of tonight’s World Cup Final against Croatia, but security will be in the back of fans’ minds after more than three years of deadly attacks, often targeting crowds enjoying a night out.

France has deployed 110,000 police and security forces across the country over the weekend, which coincided with the Bastille Day national holiday.

“Everything is being done so the French can live these festive moments with peace of mind, despite the terrorist threat which remains at a high level,” Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said.

The biggest gathering of all is expected in Paris where 90,000 will converge on a fanzone next to the Eiffel Tower — walking distance from the Champs Elysees boulevard where all great national triumphs are celebrated.

French police vehicles park park on the empty Champs-Elysees avenue after the annual Bastille Day military parade. Photo: AFP
French police vehicles park park on the empty Champs-Elysees avenue after the annual Bastille Day military parade. Photo: AFP

Last Tuesday, when France beat Belgium to qualify for the final, hundreds of thousands of revellers gathered on the Champs Elysees.

And if Les Bleus end up striking gold, police expect the numbers there to be far higher.

With success on the pitch, a country riven by tensions and still shaken by a string of attacks that have killed nearly 250 people since 2015 has been able to revel in a newfound feeling of togetherness.

At the huge gated fan zone near the Eiffel Tower, which opened four hours before kickoff (1am Monday AEST), police will be carrying out pat-downs and searches under a tough anti-terror law passed last year.

Supporters of France's national football team gather near the fan zone at the Champ de Mars, in front of the Eiffel Tower. Photo: AFP
Supporters of France's national football team gather near the fan zone at the Champ de Mars, in front of the Eiffel Tower. Photo: AFP

In case of a French victory, some 4,000 police officers will be on duty in Paris and a huge area around the Champs Elysees will be blocked off to traffic until the early hours of Monday for the first time in recent memory.

One person desperate for a French victory will be President Emmanuel Macron, a keen football supporter who will be at the stadium in Moscow with his wife Brigitte.

Former president Jacques Chirac enjoyed a surge in popularity following France’s 1998 victory — and Macron too will be hoping for the same amid a poll ratings slump.

A World Cup win “could indeed make him appear closer to voters. After all, football is the sport where societal differences are blurred,” said Frederic Dabi of the Ifop polling institute.

And a win would likely boost economic growth, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said this week.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the tribune after the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris earlier today. Photo: AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron leave the tribune after the traditional Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris earlier today. Photo: AFP

AFP

10.15pm: Key one-on-one battles

KYLIAN MBAPPBE vs MARIO MANDZUKIC
Both sides possess goal threat and, in teenager Mbappe, France have one of the stars of the tournament. The youngster has torn defences apart with his blistering pace, dazzled with his skilful touches and shown a cutting edge in the box. He is a particular danger cutting in from the right and is the first player the likes of Paul Pogba look for when launching attacks. Mandzukic, Croatia’s main striker, presents a different type of challenge for defenders. His prime attributes are his strength and aerial power and, as England will recall, he can be clinical in front of goal. Can operate as a lone striker or as one of a pair.

Key duel ... Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic (left) and France’s Kylian Mbappe. Photo: AFP
Key duel ... Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic (left) and France’s Kylian Mbappe. Photo: AFP

PAUL POGBA vs LUKA MODRIC
The match brings two of the world’s best midfielders head-to-head. Both have enjoyed excellent tournaments. Pogba has enjoyed more freedom in this France team than he has at Manchester United and he will look to dictate the pace and intensity of the game. Modric may not be popular with the Croatian public but he is the heartbeat of their side. He has impressed both on the ball and as a leader.

RAPHAEL VARANE vs DEJAN LOVREN
France have been solid in defence throughout the tournament, their thrilling 4-3 win over Argentina in the last 16 aside. Varane and Samuel Umtiti are a tough centre-back pairing and they have not conceded in their last two games. Croatia’s defence is considered their weak link but they continue to do the business and get results.

PA

10pm: How France, Croatia match up

WHY FRANCE WILL WIN
Les Bleus have an average age of just over 26, one of the youngest in the tournament, and an exciting spark in 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe, who will be difficult for Croatia to contain. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris provides the ability to come up with big saves. France will have four days of rest, one more that Croatia, who are coming into the final off three straight extra-time matches, including two penalty shootouts.

WHY CROATIA WILL WIN
Luka Modric, still in his prime at 32, remains one of the world’s dynamic playmakers. He feeds Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic, who have provided important goals in the knockout matches. The Croats have made a habit of finding a way to get over the line despite not playing at their absolute best.

PROJECTED LINEUPS
France: 4-2-3-1 Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi; Giroud.
Croatia: 4-2-3-1 Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic; Rakitic, Modric; Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic; Mandzukic.

WORLD CUP HISTORY
France won their only World Cup title at home in 1998, beating Brazil 3-0. Zinedine Zidane scored two goals and Emmanuel Petit added the other. Les Blues lost the 2006 final to Italy 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. France beat Croatia 2-1 in the 1998 semifinals. Lilian Thuram scored two goals for France.

FRANCE GOALS
vs. Australia (2-1): Griezmann (58-penalty), own-goal (81)
vs. Peru (1-0): Mbappe (34)
vs. Denmark (0-0)
vs. Argentina (4-2): Griezmann (13-penalty), Pavard (57), Mbappe (64, 68)
vs. Uruguay (2-0): Varane (40), Griezmann (61)
vs. Belgium (1-0): Umtiti (51)

CROATIA GOALS
vs. Nigeria (2-0): own-goal (32), Modric (71-penalty)
vs. Argentina (3-0): Rebic (53), Modric (80), Rakatic (90+1)
vs. Iceland (2-1): Badelj (53), Perisic (90)
vs. Denmark (1-1, 3-2 penalty shootout): Mandzukic (4)
vs. Russia (2-2, 4-3 penalty shootout): Kramaric (39), Vida (101)
vs. England (2-1): Perisic (68), Mandzukic (109)

HEAD TO HEAD
France have won three of five meetings, with two draws. The only competitive match in addition to the 1998 World Cup semifinals was a 2-2 group draw at the 2004 European Championship.

KITS
Croatia will wear their iconic red-and-white check jerseys for the first time since their opening match, and its shorts and socks will be white. France will wear all blue for the second straight match rather than their traditional tricolor of blue shirts, white shorts and red socks.

AP

9.30pm: Battle of the goalkeepers

World Cup finalists France and Croatia will be looking to their goalkeepers to be at their best in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium tonight.

Both Croatia’s Danijel Subasic and France’s Hugo Lloris have played a major part in their sides’ progress to the final and must be among the contenders for the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best keeper.

Lloris is an experienced and calming influence as captain in a young France squad while Subasic’s penalty shoot-out heroics have kept Croatia in the tournament.

Subasic overcame a mistake early on in the last-16 against Denmark with a tournament record-equalling three saves in the shootout and also saved a penalty in the shootout in the quarter-finals against Russia.

With his four saves, he is joint World Cup record holder on penalties stopped in shootouts.

At 33, the Monaco keeper, who has been first choice since Stipe Pletikosa retired in 2014 and now has 43 caps, was rock solid in the semi-finals against England to help put Croatia into their first World Cup final and the biggest match of his career.

Croatia's goalkeeper Danijel Subasic (centre) punches the ball during the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match against England. Photo: AFP
Croatia's goalkeeper Danijel Subasic (centre) punches the ball during the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match against England. Photo: AFP

The World Cup final will be the 80th game as France captain for Lloris, who already holds the record, and his 104th cap will put him one better than his coach and 1998 Les Bleus World Cup winning skipper Didier Deschamps. Only five French players have earned more caps than the 31-year-old Tottenham custodian, who made his debut for France in 2008.

The Nice native, who began his career at his home club, personifies the quiet confidence in the French camp.

“Our team has been quite calm since the beginning of the tournament,” he said. “I don’t think we have realised how far we have come. We have this inner strength inside our team.”

Lloris is mindful of Subasic’s performances in penalty shootouts in Russia but says the focus should be on winning the match in 90 minutes or extra-time.

“Of course if it does go to a penalty shootout we do know Danijel Subasic has been remarkable throughout the tournament,” he said.

“We have to study our opponents but before that there is a fight. “There is a lot of energy we need to give ... this is the time to impose ourselves.”

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save during the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match against Belgium. Photo: AFP
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save during the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match against Belgium. Photo: AFP

DPA

9pm: ‘I don’t want it to happen again’

France are determined not to make the same mistakes they did two years ago in losing the Euro 2016 final when they take on Croatia for the biggest prize in football, midfielder Paul Pogba said.

France face the Croats in the World Cup final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium tonight (1am Monday AEST), but they are rejecting the favourites tag which cost them dearly two years ago, Pogba said.

The French beat Germany in the Euro 2016 semi-final setting up an encounter in Paris against then-underdogs Portugal, who stunned them 1-0 in extra time to win the continental title.

“We are conscious of the situation, we do not want to make the same mistakes like two years ago. We want to work for it, to give everything we have to take this Cup home,” Pogba explained.

“I think at the Euro we thought it was already a done deal, the mentality was not the same as now.

“I cannot lie that when we beat Germany we thought that was the final. I know the taste of losing a final. I don’t want it to happen again. Against Portugal we thought we had won it before the start of the game. That will not happen again.”

Midfielder Paul Pogba will be a key man for France in tonight’s World Cup Final against Croatia. Photo: AFP
Midfielder Paul Pogba will be a key man for France in tonight’s World Cup Final against Croatia. Photo: AFP

8.45pm: France — what you need to know

World Cup record: France have won one World Cup, on home soil, defeating Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final with two goals from Zinedine Zidane and one from Emmanuel Petit. Les Bleus also reached the final in 2006 but they were beaten 5-3 on penalties by Italy. They have also finished third on two occasions — in 1958 and 1986 — and fourth in 1982.

Danger men: Kylian Mbappe’s pace and ability have shone in Russia and he became the first teenager to score two goals in a World Cup match since Pele in 1958 in the 4-3 round-of-16 win over Argentina. Antoine Griezmann leads the line for France and has scored three goals in the tournament in an international career that has seen him find the net 23 times in 60 games. Midfielder Paul Pogba has been important in key moments.

French attacking duo Antoine Griezmann (right) and Kylian Mbappe embrace during their team’s World Cup quarter-final victory over Uruguay. Photo: AFP
French attacking duo Antoine Griezmann (right) and Kylian Mbappe embrace during their team’s World Cup quarter-final victory over Uruguay. Photo: AFP

Coach: Didier Deschamps has managed the national team since 2012 after having represented France 103 times — including as captain of the 1998 World Cup-winning squad. He guided Les Bleus to the quarter-finals of the competition in 2014. In 2017, after France had reached the final of EURO 2016, Deschamps signed a contract extension until 2020.

France coach Didier Deschamps reacts after his team’s World Cup semi-final victory over Belgium. Photo: AFP
France coach Didier Deschamps reacts after his team’s World Cup semi-final victory over Belgium. Photo: AFP

World Cup 2018: France won their opening game of the tournament against Australia, although the VAR technology proved more of a talking point than the game itself, before edging Peru and a bore draw with Denmark to top their group. Their round-of-16 clash with Argentina was one of the games of the tournament while they accounted for Uruguay in the last eight and edged past Belgium 1-0 in the semi-finals.

Former greats: Zidane is considered one of the best players of all time, winning man of the match in France’s World Cup win and being captain in 2006 — famously ending his career by headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi and getting sent off in the losing final. Their all-time leading goalscorer is former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, who scored 51 goals in 123 caps between 1997 and 2010. Michel Platini went on to score 41 goals in 72 internationals.

Zinedine Zidane (centre) holds the World Cup trophy in 1998. Photo: AP
Zinedine Zidane (centre) holds the World Cup trophy in 1998. Photo: AP

Geography: France extends from the English Channel to the Mediterranean and its population in 2018 was estimated at 66.9 million. It borders Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy and Andorra.

PA

8.30pm: Croatia — what you need to know

World Cup record: After joining FIFA in 1992 and then UEFA in 1993 after the break up of Yugoslavia, Croatia made an instant impact at their first World Cup finals when they reached the semi-finals in 1998; beaten by hosts and eventual winners France despite taking the lead. Since then, they have exited at the group stage in 2002, 2006 and 2014 and failed to qualify in 2010.

Danger men: Croatia’s strength clearly lies in the central-midfield department with Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic. Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic is a constant threat down the left wing and Ante Rebic is enjoying a fine tournament on the opposite flank. Only Davor Suker has scored more goals for his country than Juventus front man Mario Mandzukic. Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren has continued the good form he showed towards the end of the Premier League season for Liverpool.

Sharing a moment … Croatia's midfield talisman Luka Modric (left) and their imposing forward Ivan Perisic. Photo: AFP
Sharing a moment … Croatia's midfield talisman Luka Modric (left) and their imposing forward Ivan Perisic. Photo: AFP

Coach: Zlatko Dalic did not did not begin the World Cup qualifying campaign in charge of the national team. In fact, when Ante Cacic was sacked in October, Dalic was appointed just two days before the final group game in Ukraine, which Croatia won to secure a playoff spot. The 51-year-old had spent the previous three years managing Abu Dhabi-based team Al-Ain.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic barks out some orders for midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. Photo: AFP
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic barks out some orders for midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. Photo: AFP

World Cup 2018: Dalic’s side breezed through a group featuring Nigeria, Argentina and Iceland and were one of just three nations to win all three round-robin games. They needed a penalty shootout to see off Denmark in the last 16. Croatia booked their semi-final place against England thanks to another penalty shootout success, this time against hosts Russia. They defeated England 2-1 in the semi- final at the Luzhniki Stadium in extra-time, with the teams were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Former greats: Ex-Real forward Suker, the current president of the country’s football federation, was the golden boot winner in 1998 with six goals for a team that also featured AC Milan midfielder Zvonimir Boban, as well as defenders Igor Stimac and Slaven Bilic. Brothers Niko Kovac and Robert Kovac played together at Bayern Munich, where the former has just been appointed coach while Robert Prosinecki is one of the few to have played for both Real and Barca.

Croatia legend Davor Suker celebrates a goal at the 1998 World Cup. Photo: Reuters
Croatia legend Davor Suker celebrates a goal at the 1998 World Cup. Photo: Reuters

Geography: Croatia is a popular holiday destination, particularly the resort of Dubrovnik. Croatia’s population is about 4.2 million and, of the 32 countries that competed in Russia, only Panama, Uruguay and Iceland are home to fewer people.

PA

8pm: France vs Croatia by the numbers

■ Best World Cup finish: France winners (1998), Croatia 3rd (1998)
■ Appearances at World Cup: France 15, Croatia 5
■ Goals scored at 2018 World Cup: France 10, Croatia 12
■ Goals conceded at 2018 World Cup: France 4, Croatia 5
■ Head-to-head wins: France 3, Croatia 0
■ Years since last World Cup Final: France 12, Croatia N/A
■ FIFA world ranking: France 7, Croatia 20
■ Leading goalscorers at 2018 World Cup: France — Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe (3), Croatia — Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric (2)
■ Goals from penalties at 2018 World Cup: France 2, Croatia 1
■ Yellow cards at 2018 World Cup: France 10, Croatia 14
■ Most minutes played at 2018 World Cup: France — Raphael Varane, N’Golo Kante (540), Croatia — Luka Modric (603)
■ Best European Championship finish: France winners (1984, 2000), Croatia quarter-finals (1996, 2008)

PA

A montage of images of France and Croatia supporters as they cheer on their teams during World Cup 2018. Photo: AFP
A montage of images of France and Croatia supporters as they cheer on their teams during World Cup 2018. Photo: AFP

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/world-cup-final-2018-france-vs-croatia-live-coverage-from-luzhniki-stadium/news-story/b64107430b7eac40f1da0ecd61406168