France-Croatia in the final, best possible opponent for the Blues?

Obviously, the opponent inevitably evokes good memories for the Blues : thanks to a double of Lilian Thuram, Zinedine Zidane and others had overthrown Croatia (2-1) after a semi-final of anthology on the road to their first, and only, planetary title, in 1998.

On Sunday, that will be another story to write. in the Moscow stadium (17h, French time).

The Blues will be more rested and will have played less

After surviving two penalty shoot-outs in previous rounds (Russia and Denmark), the Croatians overcame England after extra time (2-1) , the third they played in the knockout phase of this World Cup, l 'equivalent of an additional match in ten days …

On the contrary , France, who beat Belgium on Tuesday (1-0), will therefore benefit from an extra day of rest. She will have an advantage freshness on her opponent at the kickoff Sunday.

Idle passes to exploit for the Blues

In the knockout matches, the Croatians have experienced several holes. air.

Weak times when they practically did not exist as was the case during the first period against the British on Wednesday night but also against Russia.

The column Modric, Mandzukic, Subasic

Croatia can count on three strong men : a No. 10 orchestral man in the person of Luka Modric . The Real Madrid player (32) dictates the tempo often in duet with the left winger Ivan Perisic, author of the first goal against the "Three Lions".

The team at the checkered also a new hero and the Blues a player to watch: "Super Mario" Mandzukic, striker of Juventus Turin, scored the goal of the victory in the 109th minute. He allows his country to play the first final in its history, while it will be the third for the Blues, after the success of 1998 and the failure of 2006. What to put in the best provisions even if it is out washed out of the field Wednesday night.

Finally, Danijel Subasic is the ultimate rampart. The Monaco goalkeeper released the necessary parries and dominated the two penalty shootouts. Caution if the Blues must go after the extra time Sunday: the psychological battle should logically tilt in his favor against Tricolores who have not gone through this "lottery" in this competition.

No Croatian victory in regulation time

In knockout matches, Croatia never won in 90 minutes: penalty kicks against Russia in a quarter (2-2, 4 tab 3), rebel against Denmark in the round of 16 (1-1, 3 tab 2) and thus prolongation against England in the semi-finals (2-1 ,

After England in 1990, Croatia is the first team to chain three extra times and therefore three qualifications.

France is undefeated against Croatia

In history, France and Croatia have clashed five times. And the Blues have never lost. The only time in the World Cup was in 1998 and the reversal in favor of the Tricolores thanks to the doubling of Thuram (2-1).

At Euro 2004, there was a draw (2-2 ) in a pool match. Match also in the last friendly match that goes back to March 2011 at the Stade de France (0-0).

"A final is won"

If the men of Zlatko Dalić left a lot of energy in this final phase, no doubt they won in mental strength . Abused, they always ended up imposing themselves. And that a World Cup final, it shows up at best once in a player's life and rarely more. And even less to embroider a first star in the shirt of his country.

This was the case 20 years ago for Didier Deschamps who in 1998 raised the World Cup as captain of the Blues for the first time of the tricolor history. "The pictures on the Champs, it's reminiscent of good memories but 20 years ago, it was pictures after a final, this time it was after a semi-final" commented "DD"

This "father's victory" of French football always has something across the throat. "Two years ago, it was so painful, it's not nothing to win a semifinal but there is the final then" he insisted after the final of the Euro 2016 in France lost against Portugal (1-0, ap).

This message – a final, it is won – went well in the group. On the images that have filtered backstage, broadcast on the social networks of players or the Federation (FFF), few effusions of joy, unlike previous rounds.

In 1998, defender Lilian Thuram knocked Croatia out of the semi-finals. In 2018, another defender, Umtiti, eliminates Belgium. A good sign? "I hope" launched the Barcelona player

► The final of the 2018 France-Croatia World Cup to live live and in full on France Bleu who is mobilized behind the French football team with its interactive program "France Bleu with the Blues" with our exceptional consultant Patrice Loko

► Our World Record 2018