Final Recap: France Win Their First World Cup in 20 Years Thanks to an Attacking Outburst

The World Cup trophy and first place prize was up for grabs yesterday between France and Croatia. This was Croatia's first appearance at the World Cup final, while France hoped to win its second trophy in two decades. After Croatia dominated the first 15 minutes in terms of shots and possession, France's Antoine Griezmann earned a free kick not far from goal from a questionable foul. This resulted in a curling ball inside the box that was deflected by Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic's head, and into the top left corner of the net, giving France the lead after 18 minutes. Ten minutes, Ivan Perisic leveled the score at 1 all. Perisic got the ball at the top of the 18 yard box, got around N'Golo Kante and hit it perfectly past French keeper Hugo Lloris, into the right side netting. In the 34th minute, a corner from Griezmann led to a ball headed from Blaise Matuidi that was deflected just wide of the near post. However, that deflection was from Perisic's outstretched hand, and after VAR review, France were awarded a penalty, which Griezmann easily converted. Two minutes after halftime, Lloris tipped over Ante Rebic's tight angle shot, and Croatian keeper Danijel Subasic stopped a shot from Kylian Mbappe moments later. France got a two goal lead in the 59th when Paul Pogba set up Kylian Mbappe to put in a cross from the right. Mbappe's cross landed to Griezmann, who passed back to Pogba, and he converted his second shot after his first was blocked. Subasic was wrong-footed and unable to stop Pogba's shot through traffic. It then became 4-1 six minutes later as Mbappe shot from 25 yards out in the center of the area with plenty of space, as Subasic once again did little to attempt a save or block of the shot. With the goal, Mbappe joins Pele as the only teenagers to score in a WC final. Croatia got within two goals four minutes later when Lloris, trying to clear the ball away from a rushing Mandzukic, saw his pass blocked and redirected by the Croatian forward, the ball going into Lloris' net. Unfortunately, Croatia could not find the two goals they needed to send the game to extra time, nor did they find any more shots on target. France managed to win this World Cup with a strong depth, and an attacking style that could not be stopped besides their meaningless 0-0 group stage draw with Denmark.

French players celebrating with keeper Hugo Lloris lifting the coveted trophy

Final Match Preview and Prediction

Who: Croatia v. France
Where: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
When: July 15, 11 AM EST
Watch: Fox, Telemundo (TV); Fox Sports Go (Streaming)
Prediction: 2-1 France (AET): Croatia will put up a great fight in their first appearance at a WC finals match, but Les Blues will get the trophy for the second team in 20 years. France have more talent than Croatia, with most of their stars even before their prime, and have fresher legs with an extra day of rest. Croatia have played in extra time in all of their knockout games, nearly playing 400 minutes in a span of 11 days, and essentially playing an extra match than France based off the amount of time they have been on the pitch. The underdogs will be disappointed to lose this close match, but should feel proud that they have made it this far, and that they have defeated former World Cup winning teams in Argentina and England along the way.

Third Place Match Recap: England Falter Against Belgium

England and Belgium, two European teams that have under performed in recent competitions, played for a spot on the podium. Belgium got the first goal early on, in the 4th minute, when Thomas Meunier poked home a long, low cross from Nacer Chadli from the left side of the pitch. Romelu Lukaku spaced out the defense, leaving Meunier with plenty of space to score. In the 23rd minute, leading scorer Harry Kane had his shot wide of Belgium's goal, before Belgium nearly made it 2-0 12 minutes later, when Youri Tielemans' cross to Toby Alderweireld resulted in a volley just over the bar. The Three Lions would keep pressuring to find the equalizer in the second half, especially Eric Dier, whose low driven shot in the 69th minute was stopped by keeper Thibaut Courtois. 80 seconds later, Dier found himself one-on-one with Courtois, and while his chipped shot beat the keeper, Alderweireld cleared the ball off the line. Jesse Lingard set up a cross for Dier in the 73rd, but his header steered left of goal. English keeper Jordan Pickford was called into action in the 80th, diving to his right to get a hand on Meunier' side volley. Belgium would clinch third place in the 82nd when Eden Hazard got past the defense after a through-ball from Kevin De Bruyne, and cooly put it past Pickford for the Red Devils' second tally. For England, 4th place this WC marks their best finish since 1990, while Belgium have successfully achieved their best finish as a team in the World Cup.

Alderweireld (#2) clears Dier's (#4) shot off the line to prevent the potential equalizer

Third Place Match Preview and Prediction

Who: Belgium v. England
Where: Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg
When: July 14, 10 AM EST
Watch: Fox, Telemundo (TV); Fox Sports Go (Streaming)
Prediction: 2-1 Belgium: Belgium win once again by a goal against fellow Group H opponent England. England, a team that heavily relied on set pieces to score goals, will score their lone goal off a corner. Belgium, on the other hand, have more attacking talent than The Three Lions, and will score enough to secure third place for this World Cup, which would be Belgium's best finish in the greatest sports tournament.

Semifinal #2 Recap: Croatia Comeback to Beat England To Play In Their First Ever WC Final

The last spot for the finals match was decided between the winner of Croatia and England. The latter country went up in the 5th minute from a Kieran Trippier free kick from 20 yards out, curling over the bar and into the top right corner. England would not have another shot for the rest of the game though. Minutes later after the goal, England's Harry Maguire had a header go wide of the post. In the 30th minute, Harry Kane, England's leading WC 2018 scorer, was one-on-one with Croatian keeper Danijel Subasic. After Jesse Lingard set him up, Kane's shot from a tight angle was blocked by Subasic, before his rebound hit the post, off Subasic over the crossbar, and then eventually cleared away. The whole sequence was ruled off sides. Croatia could not find an equalizer in the first half, its best chance from Ante Rebic, which was blocked by keeper Jordan Pickford. It would then take another 23 minutes after the second half started for the game to be level at 1. Sime Vrsaljko played a great cross in from the right that was poked in by Ivan Perisic, leaping over a diving Dele Alli to tie the game. Pickford had no chance at stopping Perisic's strike. Perisic would almost get a second goal three minutes later, when a giveaway left him with a shot from the left that hit the far post and out, before England could regroup and clear it out. Pickford soon saved Mario Mandzukic's attempt, but almost gave up a goal when his punch landed to Perisic, whose shot went over an empty net. England had a corner in stoppage time go wide of goal, and the match headed towards extra time. In the first extra half frame, John Stones nearly put England ahead with his header, but Vrsaljko cleared the bar off the line. At the end of the first half of extra time, Perisic set up Mandzukic with a lovely cross, but Pickford came just in time to block the sure tap-in with his legs, sending the ball over the net. Mandzukic would find the winner in the 109th minute, when a miscleared header by England set up Mandzukic one-on-one with Pickford, in which Mandzukic beat the keeper with his low strike. England had no great chances to tie it, ultimately relying on long set pieces, which resulted in nothing. Croatia have moved on to the final, where they will play France. England will play Belgium for third on Saturday.

Mandzukic (in black) runs towards the corner flag after scoring the late winner.

Semifinal #1 Recap: France Hold Out Against Belgium, Await Finals Opponent

The first spot in the World Cup final was decided today between France and Belgium. In the 15th minute, Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne intercepted the ball and set it up for Eden Hazard, whose one-timed shot went wide of the far post. Three minutes later, Blaise Matuidi of France had his long range shot saved by Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois. Less than sixty seconds after that, Hazard curled a chance from the left side of the box that was deflected over the bar by French defender Raphael Varane. A corner in the 22nd minute fell to Toby Alderweireld from less than 15 yards out, and his blast forced French keeper Hugo Lloris into a diving stop, denying a goal bound shot aimed at the top left corner. Then, in the 39th, Kylian Mbappe played a great through-ball to Benjamin Pavard, but his shot was denied by Courtois' right knee. In the 51st minute, Antoine Griezmann's corner ball met with Samuel Umtiti's head, and the ball was placed inside the near right post, beating Courtois, and putting France up 1-0. At the 55th minute mark, Mbappe played a great through-ball again by back-heeling it Olivier Giroud, who hesitated on his shot before it was deflected by Mousa Dembele. Ten minutes later, Marouane Fellaini had his header just wide of Lloris and goal. Belgium had another great chance to tie it in the 81st when, after Hazard fell down and lost control of the ball, Axel Witsel's had a rocket of a shot aimed on frame, but Lloris dove to keep the ball out. France would look for an insurance goal in stoppage time, as Courtois would dive twice to stop Griezmann's and Corentin Tolisso's low driven shots. In the end, France prevailed, and will watch tomorrow's game to see who they will be playing for the World Cup trophy on Sunday.

Samuel Umtiti (#5) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal.

Semifinal #2: Croatia-England Preview and Prediction

Who: Croatia v. England
Where: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
When: July 12, 2 PM EST
Watch: Fox, Telemundo (TV); Fox Sports Go (Streaming)
Prediction: 1-1: Croatia Wins on PKs: I believe this game will go to penalties. Croatia has had both of their knockout games head to PKs, and England won in the Round of 16 via penalty kicks. I believe one of England's "Harry's" (Kane or Maguire) will score for England, and Croatia's Ivan Perisic will equalize. In penalties, Croatia's keeper Danijel Subasic will be the team's hero once again, stopping enough shots to send his team through to the final.