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Four weeks of grueling competition, unbridled joy and unbearable grief have brought us to this point: the final of the World Cup FIFA World Cup 2018.
Thirty teams have fallen by the wayside in their quest for glory in Russia, leaving only two standing. France and Croatia will compete for the most prestigious sport award on Saturday, July 15th.
The welcoming stadium, Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, is known for its world-clbad sporting events, hosting the 2008 UEFA Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester United, plus Olympic Games games. 1980. It is the country's sports cathedral and a suitable setting for the final showdown.
Both sides arrive at this stage unbeaten Croatia with six wins, France with five wins and one draw. he. The Vatreni weathered the extra time in each knockout match, while France needed a defensive perfection to pbad Belgium in the semifinal
possession of a midfielder. Remarkable terrain – ensuring that it has all the ingredients of great potential.
The Anatomy of France
The harder the adversaries of France are, the better they became. This slow start against Australia is a past memory, with the last three performances – against Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium – prowess, confidence and maturity.
The Blues do not necessarily raise their level in agreement with their opponents. There are often a few in football, but the strongest opponents allow them to play the tight and measured game that they want.
Thibaut Courtois took advantage of the elimination of Belgium earlier in the week. just an anti-football team, "by Sporza (h / t on Guardian ).
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This method features a solid midfielder composed of The insatiable N & # 39; Golo Kante, a disciplined Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi connecting two roles wisely.He is both the left wing and the central midfielder, but also neither he nor the other. one or the other, slipping out of the ball and darting towards the exit.
The striker Olivier Giroud has not yet scored. He played only once, against Belgium, and is the kingpin of France's attack.The four backs are combative, robust and excellent in their defensive profession, but the defenders lack a little bit of progress
The anatomy of their alignment really corresponds to their style; it has been called Negative tif by some, but you can not deny its overwhelming effectiveness.
The Anatomy of Croatia
In terms of form and performance, Croatia disagrees with France. As Les Bleus creaked and took a little time to find their rhythm, the Vatreni started brilliantly and gradually decreased.
The three periods of overtime played a role in that, but even their performance against Denmark in Zlatko Dalic's men proved that they could find a way to win, and that comes from their midst. rather bright terrain. 19659004] Luka Modric had a crowned tournament, perhaps only won by Frenchman Kante, while Ivan Rakitic helped to share the charge and Marcelo Brozovic took it behind him.
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This World Cup looks like logical puzzles, often seeming at first puzzled but finding the crack after a while then moving to l & # 39; use. The semifinal was a good example, with England at first, before the Vatreni gradually settled where the openings were and were hitting.
They mix well the technical side with the physical side; they are clean and tidy, but also mbadive, aggressive and able to force the problem if necessary.
Flash Point 1: The Ultimate Midfield Battle
Kante vs. Modric. Who is excited?
This match between the two best midfielders of the tournament against each other. Both dominated all the matches they played, but here we will have to give something.
Given that Modric is playing as the eighth right-hander in Croatia's 4-3-3, he should come into contact with Kante. (and Matuidi) quite often. France did a good job by blocking this flank and letting little things pbad, Argentina and Uruguay pulling nothing and even Kevin De Bruyne fighting this region
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Kante averaged 5.5 tackles and interceptions per game through six contests up to now, most remotely from any player to have played a major role in these finals. Matuidi started half the number of games, but he averaged six per game himself. He has more than earned his place on this side.
Modric naturally gravitates to the right side of the field and filters widely up to the sideline, hoping to open the cbads and give his riders a bit of room to infiltrate. Matuidi will have to follow him all the way, and Kante will have to cover the pbading lanes and prevent him from unraveling the lines.
In the other direction, Modric 's defensive attitude has never been so impressive. his ability to play, and he will diligently follow Matuidi's darts into wide areas.
It will be an intense physical battle; whoever wins puts his team in an excellent position to succeed.
Flash Point 2: Someone stops Sime!
This is not just the drift to the right of Modric that makes Croatia's flank the most dangerous; it is the presence of Sime Vrsaljko, also
The right back was in immense form against England despite entering the game as a doubt of injury, leading well forward, causing all kinds of defensive issues of Ashley Young, sending the cross for the equalizer and even a clearance from a goal of John Stones topping the line to 1-1.
Vrsaljko became a key cog for the Vatreni when it came to moving the ball forward. They will always try to use Modric and Rakitic first and foremost, but by deploying it broadly to their right with space to get into it, they have gained their territory and pushed them into d & # 39; 39, excellent positions.
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Against England, Croatia used a good dose of build-up on the left side, hoeing their opponents in half the field before moving to Vrsaljko in the l 39; space or one-on-one with Young. It was a method that tired England and made them go out to block the cross, which eventually proved their loss.
Lucas Hernandez (LB) and Matuidi (LCM / LW) will be a much tougher test as Young and Dele Alli were, but if Croatia does well change, Vrsaljko will be head-to-head with Lucas and will have room to hit at full speed. It's bad for the Blues.
Flashpoint 3: Long and heavy balls
Before the Croatian semifinal with England, we highlighted the susceptibility of the Vatreni to longer pbades in the channels. Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida are a little difficult to manage, and they are fighting fast riders in these areas, as shown once again by Raheem Sterling's efficient pbades in the first half.
Didier Deschamps will have looked at this and developed a similar but ultimately more threatening strategy. We saw Paul Pogba defying the top of the defenses throughout the tournament, looking for Kylian Mbappe's penetrating tracks or Antoine Griezmann's underhanded arrows. There will be opportunities for him to continue doing so on Sunday.
Vida, with left-back Ivan Strinic, will find it difficult to keep Mbappe quiet very . He is the fastest player in the tournament, runs incisive runs behind and carries the ball well, and it would not be a surprise if Strinic plays cautiously to put two markers on Mbappe at all times. [19659049] Credit: beIN Sports
Even though they managed to cancel Mbappe, Griezmann will take full advantage of his compatriot's attention. He will either see room to sneak, or pockets of space that are just out of reach of the defenders, and his one-sided play to keep the tempo of France impressed this tournament.
According to Courtois's comments, France hopes to play this final in the same way as in the semi-final: reactively and cautiously. They know it's going to open the counterattack, and they're probably counting on Croatia who wants to see more ball to control the tempo – they have, after all, played 90 more minutes on the round of 16. [19659004] The problem for Croatia is, playing as they probably wish, to play only in the hands of France.
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