By Mitch Phillips
MOSCOW (Reuters) – France won the World Cup for the second time in spectacular style on Sunday as a 4-2 victory over Croatia in one of the most entertaining and action-packed finals for decades ended the battling outsiders’ dreams of a first title.
After an early own goal by Mario Mandzukic France’s big guns delivered on the biggest stage of all as Antoine Griezmann – with a penalty awarded after a VAR review – Paul Pogba and teenage tyro Kylian Mbappe hit the target.
Ivan Perisic and Mandzukic replied for Croatia, who ended beaten but unbowed after making much of the running in their first appearance in the final.
It was the highest-scoring decider since England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in 1966 and the most goals in normal time since Brazil defeated Sweden 5-2 60 years ago.
There were as many goals in 90 action-packed Moscow minutes as in the last four finals combined, and three of those went to extra time.
The game featured the first final own goal and the first VAR-decided spot-kick — one Croatia were furious about and which was arguably the turning-point of the game.
But the only statistic France really care about is that the result makes them world champions for the second time following their triumph on home soil in 1998.
Having lost the 2006 final on penalties to Italy, it also meant there was no repeat of two years ago when they were beaten in the European Championship final by Portugal in Paris.
Didier Deschamps, captain of the 1998 France side, became the third man to lift the World Cup as player and coach after Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.
“This is not about me, it’s about everyone around me and the players,” Deschamps said having been carried shoulder-high by them during a post-match downpour.
“It’s a young team who are on the top of the world. Some are champions at the age of 19, but my greatest source of pride is they had the right state of mind.
“Today we did not do everything right but have those mental and psychological qualities which were decisive – and we did score four goals.
“It hurt so much to lose the Euro two years ago, but it made us learn too and we worked so hard for 55 days here. Maybe if we were Euro champions we would not have been world champions today.”
OWN GOAL
Croatia started full of energy but went behind in the 18th minute when a Griezmann free kick skidded in off the head of Mandzukic, who scored the extra-time winner against England in the semi-final.
It was the fourth successive knockout game in which Croatia conceded first but again they found a way back as Perisic, who got the equalizer against England, smashed in a low shot 10 minutes later.
Then came the moment which will keep the VAR debate at the top of the sport’s agenda.
Perisic flapped an arm at a corner and after Argentine referee Nestor Pitana conducted a protracted VAR review he awarded the 28th penalty of the tournament, another record.
Ignoring Croatian protests, Griezmann stroked the ball home in the 38th minute for his fourth goal of Russia 2018.
That made it the highest-scoring first half since 1974, when West Germany led the Netherlands 2-1 – also the final score – but this time there was much more to come.
Croatia were on top again after the break but France went 3-1 up on the hour as Mbappe and Griezmann combined to set up Pogba on the edge of the box. The midfielder’s right-foot shot was blocked but he coolly curved the rebound in with his left.
Six minutes later Lucas Hernandez tore down the left to set up Mbappe to drill home a low shot as the 19-year-old young player of the tournament claimed his fourth goal in Russia and became the first teenager to score in a final since Pele in 1958.
After three successive extra-time knockout games the chances of Croatia coming back again looked impossible but they were thrown a lifeline by Lloris, who tried to dribble round Mandzukic only for the striker to block the ball and send it into the unguarded net.
Croatia, beaten by the French in the 1998 semi-finals in their first World Cup appearance, continued to press but their energy was sapped and France held out.
Croatia’s shirtless fans saluted their players as torrential rain lashed down on the presentation ceremony and coach Zlatko Dalic had few regrets.
“We are sad but proud at the same time,” he said. “We played well but the penalty knocked the wind out of us and after that it was very difficult. We have been dignified in our victories and we must be in defeat as well.”
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ken Ferris and Ed Osmond)
