2018 World Cup: Second Cup for France
July 16, 2018 | 02:42 |2103
Victor KARDASHOV
FRANCE v CROATIA - 4:2
15 July. Moscow. Luzhniki Stadium. +25 degrees and cloudy. The whole huge metropolis, Russia’s capital, usually so noisy and mundane, seems to have frozen in anticipation of the main event of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Sooner or later, everything comes to an end, and the World Cup, a grand sporting celebration, is coming to a conclusion. For a whole month we lived football, lamented losses of our favorite teams and cheered over their victories, vigorously discussed latest news and looked forward to the games. And finally, the cherry on top of the World Cup’s cake, the final match that will determine the world’s strongest team. The final. France and Croatia. The former will attempt to win their second World Cup title, to lift the second trophy in addition to the one won in 1998, while the latter are already making history, having advanced to the World Cup’s main match for the first time ever, not willing to stop. Both teams have plenty of stars who represent Barcelona, Real and Atletico Madrid, Juventus of Turin and Monaco that competes in the top tier of French football. The final will be officiated by a group of Argentinian referees headed by Nestor Pitana. The stadium is naturally packed. The referee blows the whistle, and the match begins. Soon we will know the new FIFA World Cup champion. In the first ten minutes, the nominal guests were a better side from open play. Croatia skillfully pressured the opponent, while France defended the goal.
18th minute. Marcelo Brozović, Inter midfielder, commits a foul against Antoine Griezmann. Free-kick. The attacked player volunteers to take the kick, delivering the ball to the opponent’s box. French heads rose, but none of the players could reach the ball – it was … Mario Mandzukic who attempted to head the ball away but ended up sending it into his own net. And there goes the first own goal in the history of World Cup finals. Anything can happen in football, and just like that your opponent can score despite your superiority. 1:0, Les Bleus take the lead. Zlatko Dalic, Croatia head coach, looks astonished.
However, Croatia’s key strength is the character. 10 minutes later the Balkan team shoots a perfect free-kick, and after a series of passes the ball is delivered to Ivan Perisic, the hero of semifinal, who outclasses Ngolo Kante and levels the score.
34th minute. After a corner kick by France, the ball appears to strike Perisic on the arm. Nestor Pitana reviews footage of the incident and points to the spot. Griezmann confidently takes a penalty kick and sends the ball into the net, tricking the Croatian keeper.
The Balkan team have no choice but to attack, and they do! Up until half-time France focuses on defense. The referee adds three minutes. In the first minute Vida tries to head at the goal but fails to direct efforts on target. The teams leave the field shortly after.
48th minute. Ante Rebic has an amazing chance to put Croatia in front, but France captain Hugo Lloris saves his team while the ball travels towards the top corner.
Two minutes later Ivan Perisic misses the opportunity to level the score. The France keeper is perfect at defending his goal. In another couple of minutes Kylian Mbappe goes for a low kick from a tight angle, only to fire his effort into the legs of Danijel Subasic.
59th minute. Les Bleus secure a lead over their opponents. With a second drive, after being blocked by Croatia defense, Paul Pogba sends the ball into the net. 3:1!
6 minutes later, France take a solid lead. 19-year old Mbappe sends an unstoppable ball towards Subasic before he could get down to it.
69th minute. Croatia is not giving up. After a France keeper’s childish mistake, Mario Mandzukic steers the ball into the net. 4:2.
Croatia remain concentrated and dedicated, they keep attacking in numerous attempts to score. Zlatko Dalic replaces a defender with a striker, everything is at stake!
France barely convert to attacks, but their defense holds firm. The clock is ticking. 5 minutes of added time follow at the end of the 90 minutes. And it is full time.
The stadium roars, French fans are over the moon. France is the 2018 World Cup champion!
And Croatia set the country’s greatest football achievement so far, the World Cup’s silver medals. Well done!
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This was an unbelievable tournament that filled everyone with incredible emotions. All football fans fell deeper in love with the game. And those who were never interested had a chance to take a closer look at the most popular collective sport in the world. What matters is that sports unite us, and that is wonderful.
