FIFA WC 2018 Final: 5 Key Moments From France’s Win Over Croatia

Six goals were scored in 90 minutes in the final match of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Moscow on Sunday.

Sumit Josh
Football
Updated:
Out of their three final appearance, France has managed to win the tournament twice.
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Out of their three final appearance, France has managed to win the tournament twice.
(Photo: The Quint)

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Six goals in 90 minutes!

A match worthy to be the final of any footballing tournament on the planet.

Yes, that’s what the FIFA World Cup 2018 final between France and Croatia was… as it ended in a 4-2 result for the French who won their second world cup trophy.

A quick wrap of the match in Moscow last night. Here are the five key moments.

Croatia Gift France Two Goals

Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic reacts during the final match between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday.(Photo: AP)

France opened the scoring in the 18th minute through an own goal, courtesy Mario Mandzukic. Griezmann floated in a free-kick from the right channel and Mandzukic flicked a header into the top corner of his own team's net.

21 minutes later, France again took the lead after Perisic was guilty of handball inside the penalty.

A penalty was awarded after consulting the VAR and Greizmann made no mistake as he scored his fourth goal of the tournament.

Perisic Brings Croatia Back in The Match

Croatia’s Ivan Perisic celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s first goal during the final match against France at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday.(Photo: AP)

Ten minutes after the opening goal, Croatia retaliated with a stunner from Perisic, who slammed a left-footed drive into the far corner after France failed to clear a free-kick.

Probably, the best goal of the match.

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France Leading 2-1 at Half-time

At midway, France knew very well that a one goal advantage wasn’t enough against Croatia.(Photo: AP)

For the first time since 1974, three goals were scored in the first half of a World Cup final. Croatia had 61% possession but still they couldn’t take advantage.

At midway, France knew very well that a one goal advantage wasn’t enough, if Croatia’s previous match was anything to go by.

And may be that is why we saw a much more motivated France in the second half.

France Score Two Goals in Span of Six Minutes

Double strike from Pogba and Mbappe sealed the deal for France.(Photo: AP)

In the second half it was expected that Croatia will comeback with vengeance, but it was France who drew first blood.

Double strike from Pogba and France’s Wonder Kid Mbappe sealed the deal for the Les Bleus.

Pogba scored his first goal of the competition in the 59th minute while Mbappe in the 65th minute found space outside the Croatian area and picked out the bottom left corner with a precise, bouncing finish past Subasic.

A Look at The Records

Didier Deschamps became the third person to win the World both as a player and a coach.(Photo: AP)

The final was filled with moments for the record books.

Didier Deschamps became the third person to win the World both as a player and a coach.

Mbappe became the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score in a World Cup final.

France are the first team to score four goals in a World Cup Final since Brazil in 1970.

The final in Russia also so the maximum number of goals scored since 1966.

(For complete FIFA World Cup 2018 coverage, click here to visit our special WC page.)

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Published: 15 Jul 2018,03:34 AM IST

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