France crowned FIFA World Cup Champions
France has won the FIFA World Cup, downing Croatia 4-2 in the final in Russia.
The game is being hailed as one of the most entertaining and action-packed finals for decades.
😎#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/YtscCQvOEi
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018
It had everything; spectacular goals, controversial decisions, the VAR, pitch invaders, own-goals and more.
Les Bleus opened the scoring thanks to an early Mario Mandzukic own-goal.
The Croats levelled just 10 minutes later thanks to a stunning Ivan Perisic strike.
Then controversy struck, with France awarded a penalty via the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. Striker Antoine Griezmann had no troubles burying it to take the lead.
A double check from the ref, but it’s a penalty to France! #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/BCxO8NLL4P
— SBS – The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 15, 2018
His superstar teammates Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe added to the scoresheet, taking the French out to a seemingly unassailable 4 – 1 lead.
Nobody told French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris though, who gave Croatia a glimmer of hope, with an absolute howler handing Marion Mandzukic an easy goal.
GOOOOAAAALLLL! 4-2 as Croatia score! Mandzukic pounces on Lloris! What an incredible #WorldCupFinal we’re having! pic.twitter.com/lg035WPMVa
— SBS – The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 15, 2018
That’s where the scoring ended though. The 4-2 scoreline is the highest since 1966.
It’s France’s second World Cup victory after they beat Brazil on home soil in 1998 edition of the tournament.
Tournament awards:
- Golden Ball (best player): Luca Modric – Croatia
- Golden Boot (most goals): Harry Kane – England
- Golden Glove (best goalkeeper): Thibaut Courtois – Belgium
- Young Player Award: Kylian Mbappe – France
- Fair Play Trophy: Spain