France won the 2018 World Cup in Russia beating Croatia 4-2, after Mario Mandzukic scored own goal against run of play to give France early lead, Ivan Perisic equalised just short of the 30 minute mark with excellent strike, Antoine Griezmann netted controversial penalty to help France retake the lead, Paul Pogba doubled France's lead before Kylian Mbappe added fourth goal.
They are organised and selfless as a defensive unit, they have the world's most exciting new talent in Kylian Mbappe - who has made the biggest impact of any teenager at a World Cup since Pele - and they have reacquainted us all with the Paul Pogba Manchester United bought, rather than the one Old Trafford has witnessed.
Hugo Lloris (centre) lifts the World Cup aloft as France were crowned champions after beating Croatia 4-2 on Sunday
Former Germany star Philipp Lahm and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova present the 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy
Ivan Perisic of Croatia scores his team's equaliser at the Luzhniki Stadium
Griezmann stepped up to fire France back in front in the World Cup final
France players wheel away to celebrate following Mario Mandzukic's own goal
Kylian Mbappe of France scores the fourth goal for his team in the second half
Mbappe became the first teenager to score in final for 60 years
Ivan Perisic of Croatia scored a well deserved equaliser during the first half
It was a pity, Croatia having been the better side until that point. They hit back in kind though with the leveller their play deserved. N'Golo Kante was booked for a foul on Ivan Perisic and France had several chances to clear the resulting Luka Modric free-kick. Sime Vrsaljko made the first header, and there were two more challenges won by Croatia, before Domagoj Vida steered the ball back to Perisic. He controlled it with his right, dragged it onto his left and his low shot left Hugo Lloris no chance. If Manchester United are serious about prising him away from Inter Milan, the valuation just went up £10m.
This has been the VAR World Cup, though, so it was appropriate that the new technology played a part in the final – even if the worth of its influence will be hotly debated. The problem – or rather the reality – of VAR is that some decisions are simply a matter of personal interpretation. They would be a judgement call with the naked eye in real time, and they remain so even after repeated video replays. The goal that gave France the lead a second time was like that. The replay confirmed only that there had been a handball; what the official does with it from there is down to the individual. Referee Nestor Pitana of Argentina gave it; one imagines a number of his contemporaries would not. All we can say as neutrals is that, all things considered, is was probably best that England did not make it to the final. A contentious penalty given to France, against England, by an Argentinian? Not sure the nation in its present febrile state is evolved enough to handle that.
Just minutes after scoring, Perisic was at the heart of the action once more as he gave away a penalty for handball
Olivier Giroud (right) and Lucas Hernandez were among the French players leading the protests for a penalty to be awarded
After initially not awarding a penalty, Argentine referee Nestor Pitana spoke with VAR officials about his original non-decision
Pitana reviews footage of the incident thanks to VAR as play is halted over his impending decision
And after viewing it, Pitana overturned his decision and pointed to the penalty spot to Croatia's disbelief
Perisic tries to argue his case to Pitana, but the latter is not interested after making his decision
After a long wait, Griezmann duly scored - rolling his effort to the left as Subasic dived in the wrong direction
France's No 7 celebrated with his trademark 'Take the L' dance from the computer game Fortnite
Hugo Lloris made a goalkeeping howler to allow Mario Mandzukic to pull a goal back
Mandzukic simply tackled the goalkeeper to poke the ball into the bottom cornere Pele in 1958 to score in a World Cup final
The victory was France's second in their history - with their first success coming 20 years ago on home soil
Les Bleus' channelled their inner Gene Kelly as they sang in the rain after being crowned World Cup winners in Moscow
Manager Didier Deschamps was hoisted in the air by his France squad as the celebrations began at the Luzhniki Stadium
France players celebrate at perform their own 'Thunder Clap' at full-time in front of their own supporters
There wasn't an empty seat at the Luzhniki Stadium for Sunday's showpiece between France and Croatia
France President Emmanuel Macron (left) embraces his Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic before the match
France celebrate during their World Cup final win over Croatia in Moscow
France starting XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Lucas, Mbappe, Pogba, Kante (Nzonzi), Matuidi (Tolisso), Griezmann, Giroud (Fekir)
France subs: Mandanda, Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembele, Nzonzi, Rami, Sidibe, Thauvin, Mendy, Areola.'
Croatia starting XI: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic (Pjaca), Rebic (Kramaric), Rakitic, Brozovic, Perisic, Modric, Mandzukic
Croatia subs: Livakovic, Corluka, Kovacic, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, Badelj, Pivaric, Lovre Kalinic.
Croatia players celebrate after taking just 10 minutes to cancel out France's opener
France (4-2-3-1): Lloris 6; Pavard 7, Varane 8.5, Umtiti 7, Hernandez 7; Pogba 8.5, Kante 6.5 (N’Zonzi 55, 6.5); Mbappe 7, Griezmann 7, Matuidi 6.5 (Tolisso 73, 6); Giroud 6 (Fekir 81).
Subs not used: Mandanda, Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembele, Rami, Sidibe, Thauvin, Mendy, Areola.
Booked: Kante, Hernandez
Goals: Mandzukic OG 18, Griezmann pen 38, Pogba 59, Mbappe 65
Manager: Didier Deschamps 9
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Subasic 5; Vrsaljko 6, Lovren 6, Vida 6.5, Strinic 6 (Pjaca 81); Rakitic 6, Brozovic 6.5; Rebic 6 (Kramaric 71, 5), Modric 7, Perisic 8; Mandzukic 6.5.
Subs not used: Livakovic, Corluka, Kovacic, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, Badelj, Pivaric, Lovre Kalinic.
Booked: Vrsaljko
Goals: Perisic 28, Mandzukic 69.
Manager: Zlatko Dalic 8
Referee: Nestor Pitana 5.5.
Man of the match: Pogba
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