France had some luck before showing their class as they claimed a second World Cup title on Sunday, 4-2 over courageous but tiring Croatia.
An own goal from Mario Mandzukic and a harshly given penalty from Antoine Griezmann, after intervention from the video referee, put France up 2-1 at half-time, with Ivan Perisic getting a temporary equalizer. Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe wrapped up matters after the break before Mandzukic got a consolation after a major blunder from France keeper Hugo Lloris.
France coasted home in the highest-scoring final since England’s 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany in 1966, winning their second title, following 1998 – when they had beaten Croatia 2-1 in the semi-finals – and made up for the disappointment of losing the 2006 final to Italy on penalties, and the Euro 2016 decider at home to Portugal.
Mbappe was the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Brazil’s Pele in 1958, and Didier Deschamps became the third man to lift the trophy as player and coach – joining Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer and Mario Zagallo of Brazil.
