What a great achievement! We have a new champion of the world! France has defeated Croatia to emerge winners of the Russia 2018 World Cup, twenty years after they first won the tournament on home soil.
Croatia was mesmerised today as the French team looked too good and too hot to handle. France took the lead on 18 minutes when Mario Mandzukic scored an own goal from a free-kick.
Croatia soon equalises as Ivan Perisic got a goal back in the 28th minute with a superb strike from outside the box. But their comeback was shortlived as 10 minutes later Antoine Griezmann stepped up to score from a VAR-assisted penalty in the 38th minute to put France back into the lead as the first half ended.
Two second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba sealed the win for France who were not troubled after Mandžukić scored following a harrowing display from French keeper Hugo Lloris
France becomes world champions for the second time after their triumph on home soil 20 years ago. French coach Didier Deschamps was captain on that historic night in Paris and becomes the third person in history to win the World Cup title as a player and as a coach.
The next tournament will hold four years from now in Qatar.