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