90+5min: And it’s all over! FRANCE WIN THE WORLD CUP!
87min: Croatia continue to huff and puff and not give up, but France staying organized and strong.
81min: Giroud makes way for Fekir; Pjaca comes on for Strinic. Croatia have one more change remaining.
78min: Rakitic drags a shot just wide as Croatia not giving up.
71min: Kramaric is Croatia’s first sub; replaces Rebic. France respond by putting on Tolisso for Matuidi.
68min: Errr... Lloris? The goalkeeper gifts a goal to Mandzukic to make it 4-2, France.
#MundialTelemundo ¿El oso de la Copa del Mundo? ¡Grosero error de Lloris y #CRO se acerca en el marcador! #FRA 4-2 #CRO pic.twitter.com/0Ppu5LfM1T— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 15, 2018
65min: And now it is four as Mbappé finds the low corner from 20 yards. 4-1, France!
61min: Brozovic prevents a sure fourth with a last-gasp lunge clearance as Giroud’s overhead kick pass almost finds Griezmann.
59min: Mbappe chases down a Pogba
long-ball, dances around, waits for support. Finds it in Griezmann, who
lays it off to Pogba. His first shot is blocked. His second finds the
back of the net! 3-1, France.
54min: Brief delay for idiots running on
to the pitch, before France make the first change of the game, and it’s
a surprising one as N’Zonzi replaces Kanté.
52min: Giroud, Pogba, and Mbappe combine for a counter, the latter turns the corner against Vida but Lloris makes the big save.
50min: Modric takes latest corner, cleared but only as far as Vrasljko. His first-time volley is well wide.
49min: Goal-saving touch from Varane to take the ball away from Perisic. Lloris clears. But here come Croatia again.
48min: Rebic tests Lloris, who pushes it
over the bar. Modric takes the corner, after a bit of a scramble, it’s
a goal kick for France.
46min: Back underway (no changes) and
straight back into the action, with Lloris catch a cross and Griezmann
hitting a long shot after some great hold-up play by Giroud.
45+3min: Lloris doesn’t come for the
cross, but puts off Perisic enough and the half comes to an end with
France leading 2-1. Aaaand breathe.
45+1min: Rakitic takes the corner after Umtiti receives treatment; Vida misses the open header at the far post.
43min: Modric swings in the latest free
kick, Perisic wins the initially header, Lovren’s eventual shot blocked
for a corner. Rakitic takes, cleared for another corner. Rakitic
clears again, Giroud clears in the scramble, but Umtiti stays down after
a Croatian player lands very awkwardly on his leg.
41min: Lucas Hernandez joins Kante in the book.
40min: Perisic looks to make amends and puts in excellent cross from the left. Rebic swings, misses. What a chance!
38min: After a bit of further delay, Griezmann steps up ... and SCORES! 2-1, France!
33min: Croatia give away a cheap corner
on a Lloris goal kick. Perisic clears. But France complain about a
handball and the referee goes to VAR... the referee consults the video,
AND AWARDS THE PENALTY!
27min: Kanté unlucky to earn the game’s
first yellow as he accidentally clips the ankles of a Croatia player
bursting through the middle. Modric takes the free kick, the ball
eventually finds its way to Perisic at the top of the box, and the
in-form winger blasts one past Lloris. 1-1!
24min: Bodies everywhere as Modric swings in another cross. Referee takes path of least resistence and doesn’t make any decision.
23min: Vida with the crucial tackle as Mbappe and Griezmann suddenly find themselves 2-v-1.
21min: Croatia’s turn to win a free kick, but Vida heads over from Modric’s delivery.
18min: Giroud battles for the ball, wins
it, and France creates their first chance. Mbappe’s cross is cleared,
but France keep the ball. Griezmann then wins a foul in a dangerous
position ... which he takes ... AND IT’S GOAL! It goes down as a
Mandzukic own goal. 1-0 France!
15min: After a bit of possession,
Croatia break forward, but Perisic’s cross is cut out for a throw.
Croatia with 60% of the possession thus far.
10min: Perisic mis-hits the cross as Croatia keep up the pressure.
8min: Strinic, Rakitic combine well on
the left; Mbappe blocks the cross for a corner. Varane heads it clear.
But Croatia have it back. Pavard then wins a header against Perisic
before Giroud and Pogba complete the clearance and the latter wins the
foul to relieve the pressure.
4min: On the opposite flank, Rebic carves out a cross but Mandzukic beaten to it. Kante eventually finishes the clearance.
3min: Perisic, slayer of England, steals the ball from Pavard but is crowded out in the penalty area. Umtiti clears for a throw.
2min: Pogba on the receiving end of the first Croatian foul.
KICK-OFF: Croatia get us underway to a
massive roar from the crowd and in front of the biggest worldwide
audience of any sporting event in the world
And so we come, to the end of the road. Can you let go of this surprisingly fun World Cup?
It’s going to be hard, but soon the club season will be upon us and football will reign and it will be good. Maybe.
But before all that, it’s time for the main event, the big game, the final. France vs. Croatia.
Been there, done that vs. never have, and maybe never will again. The
two best midfields of the entire tournament. Coincidence? Probably not.
It is in midfield from where N’Golo Kanté will hope to lead France to victory, while in front of him, Olivier Giroud starts.
Here we go.
France starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Lloris | Hernandez, Umtiti, Varane, Pavard | Pogba, Kanté | Matuidi, Griezmann, Mbappé | Giroud
Lloris | Hernandez, Umtiti, Varane, Pavard | Pogba, Kanté | Matuidi, Griezmann, Mbappé | Giroud
Substitutes from: Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembélé, Tolisso, N’Zonzi, Mandanda, Rami, Fekir, Sidibé, Thauvin, Mendy, Areola
Croatia starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Subašić | Strinić, Vida, Lovren, Vrsaljko | Brozović, Rakitić | Perišić, Modrić, Rebić | Mandžukić
Subašić | Strinić, Vida, Lovren, Vrsaljko | Brozović, Rakitić | Perišić, Modrić, Rebić | Mandžukić
Substitutes from: Livaković, Ćorluka, Kovačić, Kramarić, Kalinić, Jedvaj, Bradarić, Čaleta-Car, Badelj, Pjaca, Pivarić
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