France secure World Cup glory

France win World Cup 2018 final in breathless six-goal thriller against Croatia

France were crowned 2018 FIFA World Cup champions, following an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia in Moscow.

In sight of their slow start, France drew first blood with their first attack after Mario Mandzukic’s known for his goal-scoring prowess headed an Antoine Griezmann free-kick into his own net on 18 minutes.

There were a few chances coming Croatia’s way to draw level, but neither of Ivan Rakitic nor Ante Rebic among others were able to tuck them away.

The Croats soon smiled again as Ivan Perisic continued from where he left off on Wednesday when he brought down a high ball to beat Hugo Lloris with a bottom corner finish on 28 minutes.

Perisic then became the fall guy when after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) consultation, handed a penalty to France after he was deemed to have outstretched his left hand from a corner kick.

Being their penalty converter the whole tournament, Griezmann stepped forward and send Daniejl Subasic the wrong way on 39 minutes.

As the second half commenced, Rebic pursuit to get the Croats level again but Lloris wasn’t having any of it pulling off a stunning tip.

Les Blues were keen to keep their lead intact and the pace of Kylian Mbappe got the better of Domagoj Vida but Subasic came to their rescue thwarting the starlet.

The French soon secured a two-goal advantage through Paul Pogba who tucked home from the edge of the box on 60 minutes.

After writing history earlier in the tournament, Mbappe re-wrote the history books again when he became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele in 1970 with a low shot to make it 4-2.

Four goals to boot, there seemed to be no way back for the Eastern Europeans until Mandzukic’s pressure on Lloris forced him to reduce the deficit slightly.

There was to be no dramatic come back as Les Blues snatched their second World title in 20 years, ending the heartbreak suffered 12 years ago in Berlin. kickoff.com