France: the second star under a rain of goals!

France: the second star under a rain of goals!
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AFP
/ FRANCK FIFE

Champagne! The day of glory has arrived for the Blues who won the second World Cup in their history, 20 years after that of 1998, dominating Croatia 4-2 after an incredible final of the World Cup-2018, Sunday in Moscow

And it was in the pouring rain, at 17:32 GMT exactly, that Captain Hugo Lloris raised the coveted trophy, presented by Fifa President Gianni Infantino on the podium where there were three heads of state Frenchman Emmanuel Macron, Russian Vladimir Putin and Croatia's Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic

In Paris, the Champs-Elysées were invaded even before the final whistle by a cheering crowd, as everywhere in France. And the party promises huge Monday on "the most beautiful avenue in the world" that players will go by bus around 15:00 GMT, before being received at the Elysee.

They will still have in mind this crazy final .. Buried, narrow scores, as in the last edition (Germany-Argentina, 1-0 ap): there had never been so many goals in a World Final since … 1966 (England-RFA, 4- 2 ap)!

Yes, in the Russian capital, the star was blue, won by Antoine Griezmann, involved on three French goals. "I'm going to be in the history of French football, even if we do not realize now, our children will be very proud to wear our name," he said while emphasizing the collective.

Etoile seized by "Grizou", but also Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé, who killed the match on the hour of play.

And now, when France tutoie the summits, it is always happening something exceptional: c were Zinédine Zidane's two shots in 1998 against Ronaldo's Brazil (3-0), then his "coup de boule" in 2006 (defeat against Italy on penalties).

On Sunday, he For the first time in a Mondial final there was a goal against his side, when Mario Mandzukic deflected in his cages the free kick Griezmann (18th), but also a resort to the video assistance to arbitration (VAR) leading a penalty kick, converted by the same "Grizou" (38th). Here again a first.

"DD" as Zagallo and Beckenbauer

Incredible final, decidedly, when N'Golo Kanté, until then one of the best players of the tournament, passed completely through his match, at the point of to be replaced by Steven N'Zonzi in the 55th minute; then when Hugo Lloris made a huge ball by missing his hook on Mandzukic, who did not ask so much (69th). Even if the goalkeeper, finally not very solicited, also made a good tap, on a powerful shot of Ante Rebic (48th).

"A competition is successful when it is gained", had assaulted the president Macron visiting Clairefontaine end of May during the preparation, urging the selection to win the "second star" in front of a Deschamps a bit embarrassed, he who never promises the moon.

He picks it rather than he talks about it, "Dédé la Gagne ", as a matois coach obsessed with the result. And the captain of the golden age of the French team (doubled Mondial-1998 / Euro-2000) joined the Brazilian Mario Zagallo and the German Franz Beckenbauer, winners of the World Cup as players and then selectors. [19659003AtthefinalwhistlehegreetedthefansbotharmsraisedclenchedfistsBeforebeingwornintriumphbyhisplayers

"Is France a beautiful champion? We are world champion, France will be on top of the world for four years, that's what we will retain above all," he said. he says. "My biggest pride, with this group, is that they managed to have the spirit for such a competition."

His players delayed his press conference by splashing on him or her chanting his name. "It's a bunch of fadas," Deschamps then reacted all smiles, soaked and hair in battle. "I'm in the fog, but we swim in happiness."

The Blues had missed the roof of Europe in 2016 (1-0 defeat against Portugal), and this rancor has turned into rage . They had given in to euphoria by beating Germany world champion in the semifinals of this Euro at home? Not this time, assured the executives after the victory against brilliant Belgium in half (1-0). They were favorites? They took it, to the detriment of the Croats of Luka Modric, elected Ballon d'Or of the tournament, who knew their first final there.

Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic, scorers to overthrow England in half (2-1 ap ), were this time their paradoxical heroes, scoring again, but the first against his side and thanks to Lloris, the second for the equalizer, before offering a penalty from an unfortunate hand.

Mbappé after Pelé

The Croats had one fewer day off and played three extra times in the previous rounds, which is equivalent to one extra match. And it was, in the heat of this Moscow afternoon, despite a control of the game in the first period. But the team at the Deschamps likes to undergo, to better sting.

And this rocking was operated around the hour of play, when Pogba a shot from the left (59th) and Mbappé right (65th) , both from outside the surface, made the rooster sing a little louder.

The 19-year-old Parisian, voted best youngster of the tournament, became the second youngest scorer in the final of the World Cup, behind … Pelé, of course (17 years old in 1958). And comparisons with the legendary Brazilian to bloom again, born of his performance in the last 16 against Argentina (4-3) that shook the football world. "If Kylian continues to match my records like that, I'll have to put on my crampons again …", joked the legendary Brazilian triple world champion on Twitter.

And Mbappé warned: "This n is the beginning, it's not the end, I intend to go further, to go where my potential allows me and where the limits allow. "

Second star for eternity in the sky of the Blues, and images that will remain along their course, a difficult first round, this match of anthology against the Argentineans Lionel Messi, then control and solidarity against Uruguay (2-0) and the Belgium (1-0).

Defensive solidarity and fraternity, that is the credo of this team, whose rallying cry was "Long live France and long live the Republic!". The outline of a new national optimism, as in 1998? The Blues will in any case received Monday as a hero by the people of Paris, after a memorable night. As it were, under the stars.

16/07/2018 06:20:55 –
Moscow (AFP) –
© 2018 AFP