Excited French and Croatian fans came down to Moscow to watch their countries face off to win the World Cup.
France remain favorites to lift the trophy, but Croatia could upset them after beating England on Wednesday to return to their first World Cup final.
The small Balkan nation of only 4.2 million people was caught in football fever as it swept more imaginary opponents to the final of the tournament, which Russia is hosting this year.
Kolinda Grabar, Croatian President -Kitarovic gave his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a Croatian football jersey with "Putin" printed on his back Sunday, a few hours before the match in Moscow, while Putin presented him with a bouquet of flowers .
Croatia eliminated Russia in the quarter-finals.
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Excited French and Croat fans went to Moscow to see their countries face off in the final of the FIFA World Cup World
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic gave his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a Croatian football jersey with "Putin". printed on the back
Grabar-Kitarovic herself has gone into the spirit of the occasion, traveling to Russia to watch matches and dress in the colors of the national flag.
At a meeting in the Kremlin, Putin congratulated Grabar-Kitarovic for the performance of the Croatian team
"I'm sure we'll see a nice match today", he declared.
Grabar-Kitarovic thanked Putin for what she said was the successful organization of the competition.
Putin also met French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte on Sunday.
The presidents of Croatia and France will again be in the stands to support their teams with pop stars like Mick Jagger and a host of legends of the game.
But the Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic, absent from the first week of the World Cup after refusing to participate in the opening game of the team against Nigeria, will be absent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) offers flowers to Brigitte Macron (left), wife of French President Emmanuel Macron (center) during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Sunday ” class=”blkBorder img-share” />
Putin (right) offers flowers to Brigitte Macron (at left), wife of French President Emmanuel Macron (center) during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Sunday
In Moscow, the streets around the Luhzniki stadium filled From the beginning, the fans of both nations, as well as 39, other people who had the chance to get a ticket, converged on a place of 80 000 places.
The Moscow Flower Underground, which offered free attractions to the spectators, was still a carnival of color. The noise of enthusiastic fans was heading towards the place where strict security was in place.
Elsewhere in the city, street cafes were filled with fans dressed in Croatian and French colors, as well as those from other countries. He made his way to the imposing stadium on the banks of the Moskva River.
In front of the imposing hotel where FIFA officials and guests were staying, a fleet of black cars was waiting to take them to the scene while the police were ostensibly watching.
Meanwhile, the two French and Croatian WAGs broke into Moscow to cheer on their men.
Pamela Anderson should be in the stands at the Luhzniki Stadium in Moscow to support her boyfriend Adil Rami.
She posted a black and white photo on Instagram before the game, writing: "Hello … big day."
The 51-year-old Baywatch star applauded her handsome man in the French semifinal against Belgium in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.
The US-Canadian actress and the 32-year-old defender are believed to be engaged after meeting at the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2009.
Meanwhile, D & # 39, other excited spouses and their girlfriends documented their trip to attend the final.
Alicia Aylies, the French avant-garde friend Kylian Mbappe, Miss France's winner last year, shared videos of her flight to Moscow as well as a Glamorous selfie.
Pamela Anderson, whose boyfriend is the French player Adil Rami, posted a black and white photo on Instagram before the World Cup final, writing: "Hello … big day & # 39; 39;
Pamela Anderson a friend) is ready to cheer boy boy Adil Rami in the World Cup final
Benjamin's girlfriend Pavard, Racehl Legrain-Trapani – another former Miss France – has also enthusiastically documented his trip to Moscow.
Mother-in-law Aurélien Capoue shared a photo of her plane ticket
Later, she posted selfies of herself wearing a dress in the colors of the national flag of France in her hotel room in Moscow
. Tournament, Florian Thauvin's girlfriend, Charlotte Pirroni, will no doubt continue to cheer France in the stands alongside other WAG Sunday.
The 24-year-old has already taken Instagram to show her support for France. herself in a blue outfit, captioned: "It's time for the final … Go Blues!
Louis Pirroni, the French grandfather of the Monegasque model, plays football for teams in France and Monaco and heads the Principality's club three times in the late 1950s and 1960s.
Hugo's wife Lloris Marine and their two children She shared videos of her children fun in a pool in the Russian capital, adding: "Good vibrations only."
Florian Thauvin's girlfriend, Charlotte Pirroni, posted this picture on Instagram on Sunday, adding, "It's time for the final … Go Blues!"
white and blue dress in his hotel room in Moscow
Some of the Croatian WAGS went on social networks to share selfies while they were going to Moscow
Raquel Mauri, Ivan Rakitić's Spanish wife shared a photo with her husband as well as some caught on Red Square.
Duje Caleta-Car's girlfriend, Adriana Durdevic, a lawyer and model, also shared her enthusiasm with a photo taken with her sister in Red Square.
The wife of Croatian winger Ivan Perisic, Josipa, also shared his excitement with a photo taken on Red Square with his two children.
And the ancient WAG Nives Celsius showed his support for his nation by publishing a series of revealing clichés.
"My whole mind with the Croatian team", she wrote a picture of herself with the names of the players. Raquel Mauri, the Spanish wife of Croatian star of the World Cup Ivan Rakitić, shared a photo with her husband ” class=”blkBorder img-share” />
Raquel Mauri, the Spanish wife of Croatia Ivan Rakitić, shared a photo with her husband
Raquel Mauri (right photo) also shared photos taken in Moscow on Saturday
The former Playboy model was married to Croatian foot Dino Drpic for nine years, but the couple divorced in 2014.
Moscow basks in the stifling summer sun and the global spotlight on the big day of the World Cup final.
Croatia, a nation of just over four million People are 90 minutes away from what could be a nice shock for them if they were beating France to win their first World Cup.
The inspiration of Luka Modric, the anchor provided by Ivan Rakitic and the offensive prowess of Mario Mandzukic will all be Once again, Croatia must continue its fairy race and brandish the gold trophy.
Croatian compatriot Adriana Durdevic, girlfriend of Duje Caleta-Car – lawyer and model – also shared his enthusiasm with photos taken with his sister on Red Square
ENGLAND PAY £ 2,500 TO SEE FINAL WORLD CUP
By Shekhar Bhatia for MailOnline
A fan of England paid £ 2,500 to attend the World Cup Final
But unfortunately for him, it's France against Croatia and not Harry Kane and his team in the match.
of Southend, Essex, disbursed his money on Wednesday morning, hours before England was defeated by Croatia and eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals.
The football fan, who asked to be known as "Gary" at Protects his identity from his family and friends, said, "I feel like an idiot right.
"The note has a par value of $ 750 and I gave this Russian guy $ 3,000 in cash because I was afraid the prices would go up even more in England." qualified for the final.
"I could not live with Russia and not see England in the World Cup final. It would have been a nightmare that I should have lived forever.
"My father had talked about 1966 and he had seen England win the World Cup on TV and he said that he would have liked to be there like us He could never win it again
"I was so lucky, I just needed England to win, but we could not handle that semifinal."
"But j & # 39; 39 was there for that and the atmosphere was electric.While we lost, it's a game I will never forget.
"The fans of England were incredible and at the end, the players came to us and absorbed the song and saw that we were proud of them.
The proud fan of England said that he was even more upset to have to spend £ 2,000 more for four more nights in a Moscow hotel in order to stay for a game. he was not interested in it. [19659002"ThisimplicitytheCroatieand'istheteamthatyou'ddisplayedtheiramongtheirnationalhymnandthinkthatwouldbeabletobeinEngland
" Still, it's a World Cup Final and the next is in Qatar in four years, which is long to wait. But judging by what England has done here, we have a good chance. "
He added," I have been here for two weeks and I came out after the quarterfinals and the Russians were brilliant, very nice and the weather was great. There are many reasons to feel good.
& Bills will take care of themselves … eventually. & # 39;
The starting team of St. Petersburg Sunday
The England team leaves Russia on Sunday after missing a place in the World Cup final in Croatia
They will also have to dig deep to overcome the fatigue that has just been forced in addition to the time in their last three games, winning two on penalties after match.
It contrasts with the smooth progress of France, who beat Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium in the knockout stages to earn their favorites status. To face accusations of uninspired tactics, coach Didier Deschamps shrugged his shoulders and asked his players to be calm, confident and focus
"It does not matter. There is nothing more beautiful than playing in the world Cup Final, "he said at the pre-match press conference.
Deschamps could become the third to win first prize in football as a player and coach, having been captain of France in his previous triumph 20 years ago.
The fans and tourists take photos and selfies in the Red Square in Moscow of the World Cup final between France and Croatia
![Adriana Durdevic, lawyer and model of Croatian player Duje Caleta-Car, shared her enthusiasm with photos taken with her sister in Red Square [19659072] Adriana Durdevic, a Croatian girlfriend, lawyer and model, also shared his enthusiasm with photos taken with his sister in Red Square](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/15/14/4E45BBAB00000578-5955603-Croatian_player_Duje_Caleta_Car_s_girlfriend_Adriana_Durdevic_a_-a-92_1531661072898.jpg)
