If I told you months or even a month ago that France and Croatia will face each other in the final of FIFA World Cup 2018, you would have either disregarded me as a newbie or a moron. Well, here we are, on 15th of July, 2018, having witnessed 63 games in the Russian edition of the epitome of football, waiting for these two nations, who were regarded by few or none to make it through, to face each other at the Luzhiniki Stadium in Moscow for the ultimate clash that will see either of them be crowned as the World Champions for atleast the next four years.
France, who have made it through to the final for the third time in last six years, will be looking forward to a victory in the final after losing out to Portugal in Euro 2016 and Italy in World Cup final 2006. They have a young and world class squad who will be eager for domination over international football after conquering the particular leagues and tournaments at club levels.
Croatia have been a story of doing justice to their talent rather than a dream run. They had players with prime individual quality, but could not convert them into collective success. In Russia, this changed a lot. The squad has shown cohesion and passion, and have been emotionally backed by the majority in the world to win the tournament.
Team News
France
France have been on an unbeaten run, playing only one draw in the entire path to the final. They have displayed solid performance in the knockouts after a rather lackluster group stages. The players have to be prepared for the physical challenge posed by the Croats. A majority of this squad was the part of the loss to Portugal on home soil, and seem to be extremely focused this time around.
French have looked solid in defence and lethal on counter attack and from set pieces, and will be looking to use their structural solidarity to encounter the midfield of Modric and Rakitic who have been both magnificent and untested largely.
French players, although young, have been playing their trade in some the prime clubs of the world, being key players for their respective squads. Players like Lloris, Varane, Umtiti, Lucas, Kante, Tolisso, Pogba, Matuidi, Griezmann, Dembele and Mbappe have been mainstays in European giants for a while now.
Croatia
The Croats have shown a good team performance, but their knockout performances have been a little concern with all three games going into extra time and the matches against Denmark and Russia going on to penalty shootout.
The players may be tired due to having much more minutes in their legs, but will be enjoying massive support from all over the globe. In a game that will be more about mental solidarity than technical and physical, this can be a huge plus.
Croatian players are also experienced on the club front, with players like Modric, Rakitic, Mandzukic, Vida, Vrsaljko, Lovren and Perisic playing for clubs that compete in some of the toughest competitions in Europe.
Coach Says
France- Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps could write his name into the history books by becoming only the third man to win the World Cup as both a player and a coach after Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
He captained France to their only World Cup victory to date in 1998, and it will be Les Bleus’ third appearance at a World Cup final after their loss to Italy in 2006.
The 49-year-old said: “It is a pleasure and a privilege to be here and I will tell my players there is nothing more beautiful for a player than the World Cup final. But I will say three important things: stay calm, have confidence and concentrate.”
On the challenge Croatia’s midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic will pose France at the Luzhniki Stadium, Deschamps said: “Yes, it’s true Croatia has players with strong club experiences and who have reached a level of maturity on the pitch together, but we have met teams with more experience than us all through the tournament.”
Croatia- Zlatko Dalic
This will be Croatia’s first appearance in a World Cup final and they could become the eighth different country to win the competition. Coach Zlatko Dalic says his players should be proud of their achievements.
“It is the World Cup final. The players know what that means. One thing that makes me happy is that all my players tell me whether they are not 100 per cent,” he said. “If they will be unable to give their all during the match I expect them to tell us.”
“Win or lose tomorrow there will be a seismic event (in Croatia). This gives us strength and motivation. There can be no better moment for a player or a coach than tomorrow. Whatever happens, we will be happy and proud because we deserved it.”
Key Players
France
Kylian Mbappe
The French speedster has been tipped to take over legend Thierry Henry himself for a couple of seasons now, and his current performances have even drawn comparisons with Pele himself. The striker, who has been deployed on the right wing, has a perfect balance of skill and speed with an excellent close control and a good eye for passes. He has been a key component of Deshcamps’ counter attacks, taking on the opposition defence with sheer pace and deft movements.
Antoine Griezmann
Rather gone unnoticed due to Mbappe’s exploits, Grizi has had direct involvement in last 20 French goals, and 10 in 13 of their last knockout goals. In Russia, he has been a key provider, with 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 appearances. He has been a focal point in attack, linking up well with Olivier Giroud to score and create.
N’golo Kante
A player often hidden in the highlights of his other lucrative teammates, he is a strong contender for the Golden Ball. He has been a key in the midfield, sweeping and tackling everything that came his way. He has successfully marked out Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne out of the game, and will be a tough nut to crack for the Croatian midfield. Often renowed for his defensive antics, Kante has shown his box-to-box ability on several occasions, carrying the ball between defensive lines and making important vertical passes. He is the pick for one to watch out for.
Raphael Varane
The Real Madrid centre back is sure to make it into the team of the tournament, pairing up well with Samuel Umtiti to provide a good support at the back. His marking out Romelu Lukaku in the semis was a great example of a good reading of the game and solidarity in defense, and it will be interesting to watch his tussle with experienced Mario Mandzukic.
Hugo Lloris
The French skipper has always had critics looming around, but he has successfully shut them up with a string of brilliant performances that have seen him keeping clean sheets in three of the five games he has played. He has displayed some brilliant reflex saves and good positioning, and will be a wall to pass through for Croatia.
Croatia
Luka Modric
The Mozart is arguably the best midfielder in the world right now, and he has led by example. He is a tough contender for the Golden Ball, and will be a crucial player for the Croats once again. He has done all expected of an attacking midfielder, creating, scoring and putting in the hard yards as well. He will again be expected to boss the midfield, facing off Kante in an individual battle worthy of the final.
Ivan Rakitic
While Modric is the beauty, Rakitic is the beast. He will be playing his 71st match of the season, more than any other professional footballer on the earth. He has done the “dirty work”, putting in tackles and interceptions and providing the line breaking passes to the attacking front. He scored the decisive penalty in both the shootouts, and has shown great understanding with Modric and Brozovic, with whom he has been a part of the most lethal double midfield pivot.
Mario Mandzukic
Super Mario is the target man for Croatia. A highly dedicated player, he does every work on the pitch. He runs around defenders, jumps to head, slides, shoots and even drops back to defend and tackle. At the age of 32, he still played 519 minutes at the tournament. Aptly awarded by being the scorer of the most important goal in Croatian history (winner against England in the semis in the 111th minute), he will be a constant threat for Varane and Umtiti in the box.
Ivan Perisic
The left winger from Inter Milan has just raised his stocks in Russia, after being a key creator in Europe for the entire season. Perisic has had a late bloomer of a career, but has struck his prime just at the right time. A hardworking winger, he is capable of taking on defenders, and will look to exploit Pavard on the right side of French defence. He also showed his scoring threat with a karate kick to score the equalizer against England in the semis and will test the French more often than not.
Domagoj Vida
An experienced campaigner, Vida is a mainstay in a Croatian defence which boasts the likes of Vrsaljko, Strinic and Dejan Lovren, who somehow managed to think he is one of the best in the world, alongside goalkeeper Subasic. Vida leads this talented and dedicated line, and has impressed playing every single minute of the 5 matches he has been part of including the three extra time fixtures. He can also chip in with some goals if required, possessing an additional aerial threat to the French defence.
Key Stats
- France and Croatia have faced five times previously, with France winning three of those games (in 1998, 1999 and 2000) and the other two games ending as draws (2004 and 2011).
- Two of France and Croatia’s five meetings have been at major tournaments. France won 2-1 against Croatia in the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup – Deschamps playing the full match – while their meeting at Euro 2004 ended in a 2-2 draw in the group stage.
- The last three World Cup finals have all gone to extra-time. However, historically, only two of the showpiece games have ever been decided on penalties (1994, 2006).
- France have trailed for just nine minutes and 12 seconds at the 2018 World Cup, while Croatia have been behind in all three of their knockout matches.
- Antoine Griezmann has scored or assisted 11 goals in nine knockout games at major tournaments (World Cup + Euro), more than any other player for France over the last 50 years ahead of Zinedine Zidane (8) and Michel Platini (6).
- France’s Kylian Mbappe will be looking to become only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after Pele, in 1958. Mbappe (3 goals) is already the highest scoring teenager in a World Cup tournament since Pele (6 in 1958).
Predicted line up
France
4-2-3-1
Croatia
4-2-3-1
Score Predictions
Mayank Mishra: France 2-1 Croatia
Ayush Singh: France 2-1 Croatia
Vasudev: France 2-2 Croatia, France to win on penalties.
Beyond Minute 90 