The World Cup has finally concluded and people have a mixed feeling about it. After a month of break-neck football, France and Russia set the stage for the biggest footballing spectacle on this globe, the final of the FIFA World Cup. Like most people predicted, France ran out 4-2 victors on the night to lift the Cup for the second time in their history. Didier Deschamps, who was the captain of the French side back in 1998, did it again, this time as a manager. It’s safe to say that the stronger team on paper won, but Croatia definitely did not go down without a fight.
On the contrary, Croatia actually started the match well and went on to threaten the French goal quite a few times before conceding one deflected off Mandzukic’s head. However, they didn’t lose heart and did brilliantly to equalise from a low driven Perisic shot. The parity didn’t last long as the French took the lead again before half time from a controversial penalty awarded by the video assistant referee. The ball struck Perisic’s flailing arm which was initially waved off by the referee.
Croatia, in the second half, pushed really hard for an equaliser but ended up conceding two more in the process. Two swift counter attacking moves from France left the Croatians exposed and they let in two goals within a span of 6 minutes. Subasic couldn’t do much as he was wrong footed both the times. Croatia did manage to pull one back thanks to a howler from the French and Tottenham captain, Hugo Lloris but it was too little too late as France celebrated in pouring rain after the 90th minute whistle.