After 63 games, 32 nations its finally come down to just two and to the absolute last game of this magnificent tournament of 2018 pitching France vs Croatia with the winners of this utterly promising contest going home with a 18 karat gold trophy to compensate them for their troubles and to etch their names in the history of football for all eternity. [spacer height=”30px”]
France at least on paper have an edge over their East European opponents Croatia but games have never been won on paper have they and Croatia certainly wouldn’t have been here in the finals today on paper. [spacer height=”30px”]
Didier Deschamps’ men will consider themselves fortunate that they haven’t played as much as Croatia and moreover have an extra day to rest and prepare themselves for the greatest and biggest game of their lives. [spacer height=”30px”]
Head-to-head: France 3 wins, 2 draws[spacer height=”30px”]
Recent meetings: France 0-0 Croatia (2011), Croatia 2-2 France (2004)[spacer height=”30px”]
World Cup records[spacer height=”30px”]
Games: France W33 D13 L19, Croatia W11 D4 L7[spacer height=”30px”]
Appearances: France 15, Croatia 5[spacer height=”30px”]
Best finish: France – winner (1998), Croatia – 3rd (1998)[spacer height=”30px”]
2014 performance: France – quarter-finals, Croatia – group stage[spacer height=”30px”]
The only concern for France prior to the France vs Croatia clash was probably the fitness of Matuidi who had to be recalled from the field after an unfortunate collision for Eden Hazard and now it seems he is absolutely fine to play after being names in Deschamps starting XI for this ultimate life defying clash of France vs Croatia [spacer height=”30px”]
Featuring in their second consecutive final in a major tournament, France will look to avoid mistakes of the past if they really intend to script history and become absolute legends of the game. All eyes on the the likes of Mbappe, Giroud, Pogba to redeem themselves for their pragmatic approach to football in this competition by enthralling us with some brilliant end to end game that we know France can so easily provide for us to see. [spacer height=”30px”]
Here is the Confirmed Line ups for France vs Croatia : [spacer height=”30px”]
France XI vs Croatia – Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba, Matuidi; Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud[spacer height=”30px”]
The team news is in…
Here are your Starting XIs, #FRA and #CRO fans! #FRACRO // #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/f5v1NuaCtJ
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018
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