France lifted their second title since 1998 after beating Croatia 4-2 in the FIFA World Cup 2018 final at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.
The 2018 "FIFA" World Cup final versus France and Croatia was played at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow on Sunday, July 15, 2018, at 3:30 PM GMT.
Croatia is an aberration since no one had given even half a chance for the team from a nation of 4.1 million to make into the finals of the World Cup.
However, they are here and have endeared themselves to their adversaries also.
France v Croatia video highlights
France 4-2 Croatia
Rising from ashes of war
For a country which is just rising from the ashes of war, sports have been the best way to showcase the nation, a democratic state, to the world. The story of the Croatian soccer team is all about sharing essential equipment because the country cannot afford too many. It is about raising funds so that the players can travel to distant parts of the globe to play tournaments.
The Croats had managed convincing victories against Argentina and Nigeria.
The team was lead by the controversial Luka Modric who is much hated back home and had almost lost hope of making it Russia under the tutelage of Ante Cacic. However, they managed the impossible, and with Dalic in control, they regrouped and fought back.
TV telecast and live streaming details:
- India - Jio TV, AirTel TV, Sony Pictures Networks
- The United States and territories - Fox Sports, Telemundo
- Belgium - VRT, RTBF
- Brazil - Globo, SporTV, Fox Sports
- Argentina - TV Pública, TyC Sports, DirecTV
- Canada - CBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Read: Video highlights: Belgium beat England 2-0 in 3rd place playoff match
An all European affair
It will be an all European affair when Croatia and France will lock horns to decide who will become the Tsar of Soccer in 2018.
France had earlier beaten Belgium 1-0 while Croatia had subdued England 2-1 in extra time. France will be entering the second major tournament final after 2016 when it was defeated by Portugal in extra time.
Talking about strategies which will be adopted by the two teams, the most intense battle will likely to take place in the midfield where the blitzkrieg of the duo of Modric and Rakitic will look to control the proceedings against an equally solid pair of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba. Croatia is expected to field from front to back where Mandzukic and Perisic will serve as the first of four lines of defense.
Also read: Video highlights: Croatia beat England 2-1 in FIFA 2018 semi-final to reach the finals