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AFTER a World Cup of thrills, overflows and football rather ordinary, France deserved to raise the trophy in the sky in Moscow but my heart is out in Croatia.
In the end, the big French calibers delivered, but I can not say that the young team of Didier Deschamps has really shone in this final or even in a tournament seriously reduced by the collapse of great powers like Spain, Brazil Germany, Argentina and Portugal.
France came to the final with constant improvement and great discipline and in the face of a very changed Croatia, they fought for big parts of the game.
But they absorbed what Croatia had to offer Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba lived up to their reputation and scored the goals that made the difference.
I said before the game that if the Pogba saw us in June and in the playoff phase continued to show a willingness to be a team player and to do the work that he had entrusted his manager, France would carry it.
I can not say that he had a man-type performance but he stuck with the script Deschamps gave him and when an opportunity came up he put up and got finished the goal that made 3-1 and really brought down the farce of the Croats.
They could not take a break during the match, Luka Modric and his team-mates. They scored the goal of Hugo Lloris in the first period and even after giving a goal against their side via Mandzukic's head, they continued to play their game and seemed very dangerous with each attack.
The equalizer of Ivan Peresic game when Nestor Pitana went to VAR on a penalty shout that I think he was wrong.
The VAR process went off perfectly and the only problem I had was with the final call that he made. It was a very, very severe penalty and I'm not sure Perisic knew anything about it when the ball hit his hand.
Griezmann also clearly plunged for the free kick that brought the French into the Croatian penalty area.
That did not roll back Croatia and when the second half started, they resumed their game at high speed and were able to equalize when Pogba caught the rebound of his own right foot with C & # 39; was a chic arrival, as did Mbappe soon after, and although Croatia stayed there and continued to try to reach another goal, the only consolation that they had for their work was a Lloris clown moment. leave Mandzukic in.
Great credit to Croatia for the way they continued to fight, but there was no way through this powerfully sporting France team.
Overall, it was a good World Cup for entertainment and shocks. condition of the game of the world, it did not t produce a definitive declaration of superiority by a team or a player.
Mbappe is now known throughout the world and he will carry the hopes of those of us who like to see great players perform at the peak of their powers. Modric is a gem, the best in the world in his position but there are so few like him and it worries me for a long time.
VAR has worked well in this tournament and the only regret is that we will not see him in the Premier League next season. But I am very optimistic about this now that we have seen it in action.
He needs some adjustments but he is here to stay.
Herald Sport
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