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MOSCOW (AP) – A look at clashes in the World Cup final between France and Croatia:
GOALKEEPERS
French fans worry about Hugo Lloris, who gave the pitch at a tough season at Tottenham last August when he allowed Marcos Alonso's 10-yard shot in the 88th minute to slip under his body, giving Chelsea a 2-1 Premier League win. However, he rebounded for several big stops in the World Cup. Important saves led Martin Caceras to lead the 44th minute of the quarterfinal match against Uruguay and to tip Toby Alderwerield's shot in the 22nd minute of the semi-final against Belgium
6 1/2 seasons with Monaco, was the Ligue 1 goalkeeper of the year in 2017. He became the first goalkeeper to win consecutive World Cup shootings since Sergio Goycochea Argentina in 1990. In the round of 16 against Denmark, he plunged Christian Eriksen kicked a post, dipped to the right to reverse Lesse Schone's offer on the fourth kick, then dipped to left but took his legs on the kick of Nicolai Jorgensen. Against host Russia in the quarterfinals, he dipped right, but got his left hand on the sending shot of Fyodor Smolov.
Edge: France
DEFENSEURS CROATEAUX VS. FRENCH ATTACKS
Olivier Giroud tops the Blues, but the player to watch is Kylian Mbappe, 19, who has shown a dynamic pace from the right flank. He scored a goal in the first period in the 1-0 win against Peru in the group stage and the last two goals of the 4-2 win against Argentina in the round of 16. Antoine Griezmann places the line behind Giroux, with Blaise Matuidi on the left
Croatia starts Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida in central defense, with Sime Vrsaljko on the right and Ivan Strinic on the left. The Englishman Raheem Sterling could create space in the semi-finals and Mbappe should be even harder to contain. The races and crosses of Vrsaljko are a big part of the attack. He showed his vigilance in the semifinal when he cleared the head of John Stones in the 109th minute
Edge: France
MIDFIELDERS
Luka Modric, dominant at age 32, had the best distribution of midfielder in the tournament, perhaps the best at the World Cup since Spain Xavi Hernandez in 2010 and the Italian Andrea Pirlo in 2006. Ivan Perisic on the left flank was the difference in half -final, equalizing the score when he defeated defenders Mario Mandzukic for the purpose of going forward. Ivan Rakitic has tested in a deeper position in midfield, where he is paired with Marcelo Brosovic, but they will have to defend against Matuidi. Ante Rebic, who starts on the right flank, took advantage of a bad clearance from goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero for the first goal of the group stage win against Argentina.
Ngolo Kante and Paul Pogba playing in deeper roles will have to prevent Modric and Rakitic from exposing the Blues' back line to the breakaways. Griezmann has three goals (including two shots on goal) and two assists, one on a free kick led by Rafael Varane against Uruguay, but he has not had any play. [19659002] Edge: Croatia
CROATIAN FORWARDS VS. DEFENSEURS FRANCAIS
Mandzukic is a poacher who sneaks on a ball lost in the penalty area to score against Denmark, then breaks the English defense after a missed clearance to score the goal in overtime in the semifinals.
Varane and Samuel Umtiti are in the middle of the French back row with Benjamin Pavard on the right and Lucas Hernandez on the left. The offensive defenders was important to Les Bleus. Pavard's equalizer against Argentina, a 20-yard semi-volley shot, could be the goal of the tournament. Umtiti scored the goal in the 1-0 semi-final win over Belgium when he beat Marouane Fellaini in a corner.
Edge: Croatia
OTHER FACTORS
France enters the final with four days off with three. Croatia has played 120 minutes in each of its last three knockout matches
Edge: France
PICK
France has one of the youngest teams, averaging only 26. just after. Mbappe will prove too much for Croatia
France 3-1.
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