Classic as ever! France brings the trophy home after 20 years beating Croatia by 4-2

NewsBharati    16-Jul-2018
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Moscow, July 16: Making dreams come true, the fans drooled with celebration, excitement and the essence of being champions, the FIFA World Cup, France 4-2 Croatia won their second World Cup. It has been a World Cup of spectacular goals, of set-piece mastery and surprises aplenty, like no tournament before.

 
Didier Deschamps effort to see his team win the ultimate trophy finally came true and while he was addressing the media post World Cup final, the players interrupted dancing and showering their manager in drinks as they celebrated the victory. His team took the lead through a Mario Mandzukic own goal, and then went back in front courtesy of an Antoine Griezmann penalty after Ivan Perisic had equalized for Croatia. Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe both scored in the second half to put France out of sight, and they could even afford to see Mandzukic pull a second goal back for Croatia after an awful Hugo Lloris mistake.

France led 2-1 at half-time after a Mario Mandzukic own goal and an Antoine Griezmann VAR penalty, with Ivan Perisic briefly bringing first-time finalists Croatia level. Quick-fire strikes by Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe midway through the second half put France on course for the title but Mandzukic was gifted a goal by French keeper Hugo Lloris to set up a nervous last 20 minutes.

France, however, endured a spirited Croatia attack to lift the trophy for the second time, following their success on home soil 20 years ago, and ensure there was no repeat of two years ago when they were beaten in the European Championship final by Portugal in Paris.

Croatia had started full of energy but fell behind when Mandzukic, who scored the extra-time winner against England in the semi-final, became the first man to score an own goal in a World Cup final when a Griezmann free-kick skidded in off his head in the 18th minute. It was the 12th own goal of the tournament. It was harsh on Croatia, who had made most of the running, and they were on top again after the break, continually winning their one-on-one duels in the air and in every tackle and forging forward in the French box with plenty of variety.

But France's defense, so impressive all tournament, held and they went 3-1 up on the hour as Mbappe and Griezmann combined to set up Pogba on the edge of the box. His right-footed shot was blocked but he coolly curved the rebound in with his left.

After three successive extra-time knockout games, the chances of another Croatian comeback seemed slight but they looked dead and buried six minutes later. Lucas Hernandez tore down the left to set up Mbappe who drilled a low shot beyond keeper Danijel Subasic for the 19-year-old's fourth goal of the tournament.

Croatia, beaten by the French in the semi-finals in their first World Cup appearance in 1998, continued to press but their energy was sapped and France safely held out for the victory. Millions of French soccer fans were elated with joy on Sunday as France beat Croatia to win soccer's World Cup in a pulsating final in Moscow that sparked ecstatic scenes from Paris to Marseille and beyond.

France FIFA World Cup Croatia 4-2 victory tournament Moscow