FIFA WC 2018 Final | France Are The New Champions!
Catch all the live updates from the final of the FIFA World Cup 2018 between France and Croatia.
- France beat Croatia 4-2 in the FIFA World Cup Final
- France were the first to get on the board after Mandzukic scored an own goal in the 18th minute
- France went into the half-time break with the 2-1 lead
- Pogba, Mbappe scored in a span of six minutes to give a France 4-1 lead in the 65th minute
- Mandzukic then scored off an error from Hugo Lloris to make it 4-2.
We Present to You The New World Cup Champions! FRANCE!
Thibaut Courtois wins the Golden Glove.
Harry Kane wins the Golden Boot.
Luka Modric Wins The Golden Ball.
Kylian Mbappe Wins the Young Player of The Tournament Award.
Antoine Greizmann, France
"I don't know where I am, it is great... Very happy. It was a difficult match. Croatia play a great game. We started timidly. We knew it was a World Cup Final. We got into the game and on counter attacks, we made the difference. Very happy. We look forward to lifting the cup and taking it to France."
Didier Deschamps, Coach, France
"How marvellous! It's a young team, who are on the top of the world. Some are champions at the age of 19. We did not play a huge game but we showed mental quality. And we scored four goals anyway. They deserved to win. The group worked so hard and we had some tough moments along the way. It hurt so much to lose the Euro two years ago, but it made us learn too. The win is not about me, it's the players who won the game. For 55 days, we have done a lot of work. It is the supreme coronation. We are proud to be French, to be Blues. The victory in the match belongs to them. Vive le Republic."
Twitter Explodes After France Crowned Champions
Kylian Mbappe: The Superstar
Mbappe becomes the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele in 1958.
French Players Take Over The Field
Second World Cup triumph for Les Bleus. France last won the World Cup in 1998 at home.
The Croats Should Be Proud of Themselves
Party Has Just Begun In France!
Deschamps Joins an Elite Company
French coach Didier Deschamps now part of an elite company of Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer as the third person to win the World Cup both as a captain and a coach.
FRANCE WIN FIFA WORLD CUP 2018!
And its over. France beat Croatia 4-2. France crowned champions for the second time. Didier Deschamps becomes the third person to win the World Cup both as a player and a coach.
90 minutes up: Five Minutes of Extra Time Given
82': Substitution For Croatia
Pjaca comes off bench to replace Strinic
81': Substitution For France
Fekir comes on for Giroud.
73': Substitution For France
Tolisso comes off the bench to replace Matuidi.
71': Substitution For Croatia
Rebic comes off as Kramaric comes in.
69': GOAL! Mandzukic Scores At The Right End
An error from Hugo Lloris, who tried to dribble around Mario Mandzukic as he closed down the ball. Mandzukic simply stuck out a leg and pushed the ball into the net.
65': GOAL! Mbappe Makes It Four For France
France are the first team to score four goals in a World Cup Final since Brazil in 1970.
59': GOAL! Pogba Comes to The Party
Pogba shoots a left-footer into the net after his first shot is blocked. Pogba’s first goal of the competition.
55': Substitution For France. Kante Taken Off
Steven Nzonzi replaces Kante in the French midfield. France going for a more defensive approach.
52': Again a Run From Mbappe!
Mbappe Beats Vida but Subasic gets there in time to deny Mbappe his fourth goal of the competition.
2nd Half Underway: What a Shot From Rakitic!
A perfectly-timed jump from Hugo Lloris saves Les Bleus from the blues.
Half-Time: France 2 - 1 Croatia
First half is over and what a half it has been. Three goals in 45 minutes! For the first time since 1974, three goals have been scored in the first half of a World Cup final. Croatia with 61% possession has had the lion share of the ball. But two mistakes from the Croatians have helped France the lead. Expect a motivated Croatia to come strong in the second half.
39': GOAL! Griezmann Converts a Penalty, France Ahead Again
Griezmann carefully slides his penalty to his left as the goalkeeper dives in the opposite direction. France back in front.
36': France Awarded a Penalty
A handball inside the box by Perisic. Argentine referee consults VAR, takes his time and points at the spot.
29': GOAL! Perisic Scores The Equaliser
Game on! Ivan Perisic takes control, steps around his marker and slams a left-footed drive into the far corner.
18': GOAL! and France Go One Up
Mandzukic scores an own goal after Griezmann curls one in from a set-piece. First-ever own goal in a World Cup final.
17': Free Kick For France
Griezmann fouled by Brozovic. Will Griezmann convert it again?
Ten Minutes Up and Croatia Having Greater Share of Possession
FIFA World Cup 2018 Final Kicks-off
Both Sides on The Pitch
The two teams are out in the tunnel as they await their biggest match of their lives while the World Cup trophy is brought onto the pitch by the 2014 champions Germany skipper Philip Lahm.
The teams are out in the middle amid loud cheers from the crowd. Their respective national Anthems are being played.
Closing Ceremony Underway in Moscow
Nicky Jam, Will Smith and Era Istrefi performed the Official Song of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia 'Live It Up'.
French Fans Have Started Gathering At The Eiffel Tower
Fans From Both Sides Ready to Shout Their Lungs Out
Less Than an Hour From Kick-off. Take Your Pick.
And There We Spot a Croatian Fan
Will The Croatian Fans Party All Throughout The Night?
Usian Bolt in Moscow
France have arrived at The Luzhniki Stadium
Look Who is in Moscow For The Final
A Peek into The French Dressing Room
Inside the Croatian Dressing Room
Who Will Score The Winner?
The Teams Are Out. Here is the Starting Line-Up
France: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Pogba, Kanté, Mbappé, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.
Croatia: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Strinic, Lovren, Vida, Rakitic, Modric, Brozovic, Perisic, Mandzukic, Rebic.
Hello and welcome to our Live Blog for the final of the FIFA World Cup 2018 where France and Croatia are all set to a face each other.
France, who are making their third appearance in the final, beat Belgium 1-0 in the quarter-final while Croatia came back from one goal down to beat England 2-1 in extra-time to make it to their maiden World Cup final. Both France and Croatia are yet to lose a match in Russia.
Mbappe and Greizmann will be the players to look out in the French side. The duo has scored three goals each till now in the competition.
In the Croatian camp, a lot will depend on the star-studded midfield comprising captain Luka Modric and Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic.
French coach Didier Deschamps will look to join the elite company of Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer as the third person to win the World Cup both as a captain and a coach.
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