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The 2018 World Cup The final is this Sunday, July 15, with France to meet Croatia at Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, without Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but the final remains the biggest sports show in the world, beat about 81 000 spectators and was watched by a global television audience that could amount to billions. At the end of the 90 minutes plus injury time, and possibly more time, and perhaps even penalties, a Jules Rimet Trophy team and be crowned world champion "data-reactid =" 16 ">
The final of the 2018 World Cup will take place this Sunday, July 15, while France will face Croatia at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. There may not be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but the final is still the biggest sports show in the world. The quadrennial demonstration match will be played in front of around 81,000 spectators and watched by a worldwide television audience that could be in the billions. At the end of the 90 minutes, more injury time, and possibly overtime, and maybe even penalties, a team will lift the Jules Rimet Trophy and be crowned World Cup champion.
But before looking at what could happen
What is expected of these teams?
France
With Germany and Brazil, France was one of three big favorites of the World Cup this summer. Although Didier Deschamps' star-studded team has started more slowly than expected, perhaps the Blues are right where many experts have chosen them to be at this stage; in the final with a good to excellent chance to win everything.
France players pose for a photo before the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between France and Belgium. (Getty Images)
Croatia
In a competitive Group D, with Argentina's Messi, Nigeria and Iceland, Croatia was not necessarily assured of qualify for the round of 16. The talent of the team, the reputation of Croatia as a perpetual underperforming, did not even distinguish it as a black horse to reach the final. At best, he should finish second in his group which, over the meetings, would have organized a meeting with France, not in the final, but in the round of 16, where most would have predicted the World Cup of Croatia. Finally, Croatians Domagoj Vida and Mario Mandzukic celebrate their victory in the 2018 Russia World Cup semifinal match between Croatia and England. (Getty Images)
How did these teams come here?
France
Although currently having one of the best international football teams, France has not managed to tear off trees at this tournament. But he did not lose any games either. The Blues opened their tournament with two group stage victories over Australia (2-1) and Peru (1-0), followed by a snoozer from a scoreless draw against Denmark.
16, which put an end to Messi's dreams by beating Argentina in a suspense of 4-3. The team seemed to retreat somewhat into its shell for a convincing 2-0 win against Uruguay. While we are still waiting to see the team take over, France has been impressive in winning a semi-final 1-0 semifinal that has allowed Belgium to qualify for the final.
Croatia [19659017] Unlike France, Croatia came out of the competition at this World Cup. Zlatko Dalic's team made things move with a comfortable 2-0 win over Nigeria, followed by a systematic 3-0 Argentina destruction, as Messi & Co. have never really found. Croatia beat their group by convincingly defeating the same Icelandic team that brought down England from the Euro two years ago.
In the round of 16, things got a little worse. The three knockout games of Croatia were extended, which allowed the team to play a football match of a duration of 90 minutes more than its final opponent. Two of those matches went to penalties, Ivan Rakitic taking decisive action against Denmark and Russia. Fortunately, no penalty was needed because the team proved resilient and beat England 2-1 thanks to a decisive goal from Mario Mandzukic in the 109th minute
Who are the key players in each team?
France – Kylian Mbappe
With top players like Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and Atletico Madrid striker, Antoine Griezmann in the team, the France's embarrassment in talent would have made it difficult to nominate a key player Kylian Mbappe: "The 19-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker has made his debut in the championship against the United States. Argentina, making a lightning run to win the penalty, opened the scoring for France before putting the game to bed with a pair of second-half goals, and also scored against Peru in the group stage and although it was not clear. he remained silent on the front, Mbappe was already the player of the World Cup.The stage is perfect to allow Mbappe to lead France to the glory in the final.
Kylian Mbappe, of France , in action during the semifinal of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between France this and Belgium. (Getty Images)
Croatia – Luka Modric
Simply put, Luka Modric is perhaps the best player we've seen at the 2018 World Cup. Another victory in the Champions League with his Real Madrid team, the midfield talisman was the orchestrator at the center of the park for this talented Croatian team. With only two goals and a helper, his stats can not jump off the page, but the intangibles of 32, like his calm on the ball and his success rate – 88% against England – place him at the center everything that went well for Croatia. Modric is the kind of player who makes the players around him look better than them. If Croatia have to beat France again, Modric is the key …
Croatia's Luka Modric celebrates victory after the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final match between England and Wales and Croatia at the Luzhniki stadium in July 11, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Getty Images)
What are the keys of the game?
France
Without ever appearing too spectacular, France broke a record in the World Cup finals the most talented teams of the tournament in Argentina and Belgium. While the Deschamps team has not yet won applause for its offensive flair or dazzling moves, she's not really deceived herself. One of France's strengths at this World Cup seems to be to let opposing teams dominate possession while minimizing their real chances. The victory against Belgium was a master class in this game.
But this could prove dangerous against a Croatia that likes to own the ball, which is also good for minimizing the chances of opposition, and who is comfortable. To avoid the extra time and penalties that have become the comfort zone of Croatia, France will have to outclass the Croatians in regulation. This might require finding additional attack equipment which we have only seen glimpses of. If the likes of Mbappe, Griezmann and Olivier Giroud can slip into the kind of flowing attacks that we think they are capable of, France should simply be unbeatable. But if the Deschamps team continues to roll in third, it could open to the possibility of a reversal, perhaps by letting itself be drawn into a penalty shoot-out, where the Croatian experience from previous matches could be decisive.
19659034] Having played 90 minutes of overtime and one day off from France, Croatia runs the risk of qualifying for the final. Modric, in particular, seemed tired late in the game against England and made mistakes that we usually do not see at home. While Croatia is of good quality, especially in midfield with Modric and Rakitic, it seems risky to face France, especially as no one in the Croatian team can match the pace of Mbappe.
game and trying to surpass and surpass France, that we have already seen a Belgian team undoubtedly superior try not to do. If we saw anything like a road map for the success against Croatia's France at this World Cup, it was the match of Argentina, when Croatia gave possession to a team more talented and ruthlessly exploited the mistakes of the opposition. It's also risky because it would have to some extent beat France to its own game. The other option is to try to force the French to stop, to take them in. extension, then hit them hard when their initiative begins to falter, as did Croatia against England. Other than that, there are always penalties.
Who wins?
Everyone loves an underdog story and despite some of the darker elements surrounding the team, Croatia is offering us a good World Cup. We have seen Croatia fight hard to put teams probably higher than the sword, but we have also seen its luck to a certain degree.
After Belgium beat Brazil, most people had the favorite to win the World Cup. Before France can spread it without much trouble. This may not be as exciting as we hoped for, but with the failures of Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Belgium and the United States. Spain, the French can legitimately claim to be the best team of the 2018 World Cup. At this point, it would take something special from Croatia or any team to beat them. While we have seen other teams make the mistake of counting Croatia, it is hard to imagine a scenario in which France will not be crowned Sunday World Cup champion.
Look for the Blues at 2-1 in overtime
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