The Habs team had been ranked contender well before the tournament, so winning the title Blues is not surprising. But the French team is not completely enthusiastic.
Stefan Osterhaus, Moscow
Football can hardly be more rational and clear than that played by the French at this World Cup: the final scorer Paul Pogba (center) celebrates with the trophy of the Coupe du world. (Photo: Carl Recine / Reuters)
Now it's ended with a show, the World Cup in Russia. 4: 2 beat France the surprise finalists of Croatia; a result, as it was admired in 1966, when England and Germany clashed.
In the end, it was the clear victory of a favorite who had been among the contenders well before the tournament. Nobody will doubt that the French, who won the Cup for the second time since 1998, are a worthy champion. They have fabulous players in their ranks, players like forwards Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann, defenders Raphaël Varane and Samuel Umtiti – and of course Paul Pogba, the midfielder who made this final his game. accomplished trainer at Didier Deschamps, whose training had a strong disciplining effect on this collection of talented people. And at crucial moments, they had the nerve to outweigh the equivalent counterparts as the Croats.
As a result, winning the title is anything but a surprise. The conditions were created a long time ago. For years, the national team of France has recorded a steady rise. The years of chaos under coach Raymond Domenech, who had fought over with his team, were overcome by Laurent Blanc and just Deschamps, who took over the team in 2012. Two years later , the team failed just in the quarterfinals before the eventual champion of Germany, at the last European championship, she was beaten only in the last Portugal. The fact that this is now enough to win the title depends largely on the experience that the still young team has been able to reap in two tournaments. It will play a decisive role in the years to come.
France will face Croatia in the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Luschniki stadium in Moscow. The Blues win the trophy for the second time after 1998 with a 4-2 win, but can also count on a bit of luck in the refereeing decisions. The picture shows the Frenchman Blaise Matuidi (number 14) in a duel against the Croatian Marcelo Brozovic (11). (Image: Sportimago) The French fan curve set the tone, with 78,011 spectators watching the game on the spot. The Blues enter the game as a lightweight favorite; After the last title of the World Cup in 1998, Les Bleus are hoping for a new edition of their triumph. (Image: Peter Powell / EPA) Representing the 2014 World Champion, the German Philip Lahm brings the trophy to the stadium; Russian model Natalia Vodjanowa assists her. (Image: Sportimago) The French national team shortly before the kickoff. (Image: Thanassis Stavrakis / AP) Croatia's eleven are in the World Cup final for the first time. (Image: Abedin Taherekenareh / EPA) The game begins; The pace is high from the start, especially Croatia, from the first minute on a dynamic gameplay. Here, the Frenchman Antoine Griezmann (on the left) tries to fight Domagoj Vida's ball. (Image: Thanassis Stavrakis / AP) French supporter in Red Square in Moscow. They especially hope the offensive against the young Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann. The Habs team also shines in the defense. (Photo: Zurab Kurtsikidze / EPA) Visibly happy, French President Emmanuel Macron (left) follows the match; FIFA President Gianni Infantino shares a place with him. (Photo: Petr David Josek / AP) Croatian fans are eagerly awaiting the match on Red Square in Moscow. Croatia did the story before the grand finale. With four million inhabitants, it is the second smallest country after Uruguay, which has had a World Cup final. (Bild: Zurab Kurtsikidze / EPA) After 19 minutes, the French have their first reason to celebrate: a doubtful foul on Antoine Griezmann ends with a free kick, which lands by the unfortunate Croatian Mandžukić distracted in his own goal. It is 1-0 for France. (Image: Sportimago) Croatians equalize in the 28th minute. Ivan Perišić can make a sovereign free kick. (Photo: Petr David Josek / AP) Perišić, the former Wolfsburg player, celebrates his goal; he has the ball well placed on the left and injected from 13 meters dry in the bottom right corner of the goal. (Image: Sportimago) Referee Nestor Pitana whistles in the 34th minute and points to the penalty point shortly thereafter. Croatian Ivan Perišić is guilty of a hand-held game, which the referee studies intensively on the video screen. (Image: Sportimago) In the 38th minute follows the 2: 1 for the French by Antoine Griezmann; he exploits the penalty due to handball. (Image: Sportimago) Antoine Griezmann shoots the penalty at 2: 1. The Habs team can thus relocate to the well-liked counter-game, Croatia must continue to run. (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA) The second half is started. The Croatians, in the picture Ante Rebic (number 18), continue to make the strongest impression, gain more tackles and intensify the game again and again. However, they do not stand a good chance. At 19:10, people suddenly storm the ground. Apparently, these are not ordinary "runabout" behind the action, according to the AP press agency, the political collective artists "Pussy Riot" hide, as announced politico group Russian punk on social networks. It lays out a list of demands: political prisoners must be released, arrests at rallies must stop, the country needs more political competition. (Photo: Sportimago) It is then the French who can develop their leadership. In the 59th minute falls the 3: 1 by Paul Pogba (left) After a defeat of the Croatians in midfield. Number 6 of the French marks a first Croatian, but gets a second chance and strikes 17 yards with left well in the left corner. (Image: Natacha Pisarenko / AP) The Croatians are trying to outdo themselves once again. But their more offensive game makes them more vulnerable in defense as soon as the French launch a counterattack. On the picture: Frenchman Olivier Giroud (right) Against the Croatian Ivan Rakitic. (Image: Francisco Seco / AP) It's the 65th minute when France scores again. The 4: 1 scored the young Kylian Mbappé. The 19-year-old world star shoots with the right completely left lower; no chance for goalkeeper Danijel Subašić. (Image: Petr David Josek / AP) However, the Croatians managed a second goal in the 69th minute later. Mario Mandžukić (number 17) can reduce to 4: 2; French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (M.), who is otherwise very safe, does not look good. (Photo: Abedin Taherkenareh / EPA) The game is over, France is world champion in 2018. Twenty years after the first World Cup title in 1998, the Tricolore team crowns the crown again . (Image: Petr David Josek / AP) The French elf acclaims. 4: 2 for France is the final result, but it does not quite reflect the match, which the Croatians have designed over long distances and dominated for many phases. The final of the World Cup can be described as one of the most spectacular and memorable in the history of the World Cup. (Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis / AP) The France team rejoices with coach Didier Deschamps after his 4-2 victory against Croatia. (Image: Francisco Seco / AP) Big is the disappointment of the defeated team Croatia. Striker Ivan Perišić has agreed to lose the World Cup final at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. (Image: Natacha Pisarenko / AP) In the pouring rain, celebrities are advancing to hand over the World Cup trophy. V. l. . N r .; FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. (Image: Natacha Pisarenko / AP) The French Adil Rami has a hard time believing in his luck. The French won the final with good circumstances in the first and two goals after counter-situations in the second half. (Photo: Natacha Pisarenko / AP) Paul Pogba, 25, is delighted to receive the highest prize ever awarded to international football. Not only is he celebrating his success for the French national team, but he has signed successfully with Manchester United for two years. (Image: Peter Powell / EPA) French Kylian Mbappé (r), the tournament's best junior player, receives a special prize; and Croatian Luka Modric (left) as the best player in the 2018 World Cup. (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA) The World Cup trophy is dramatic. The Luschniki stadium is a big downpour, as Frenchman Olivier Giroud can lift the coveted trophy in the air. (Photo: Martin Meissner / AP) In the report
France takes the role of favorite and defeats Croatia 4: 2
It is so that we meet Deschamps and his players with the fear that usually causes such impressive feats. But are they also able to inspire you? In any case, it is not necessarily a team that pulls you out of your seats, but rather a team that receives conscientious applause.
There are reasons for restraint. The appearance in Russia was of almost irritating perfection. Between the opening and the final success was little idle, but there were victories against Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium. Not once did the French get in trouble, which sets them apart from the many world champion teams. The crises that make a team and its protagonists always tangible and therefore a little closer, were unknown to this team. Instead, she made her program as unruffled as it was about a more or less heavy duty.
It's unfortunate. For those who see them, these players with their incredible abilities, who can easily imagine the aesthetic heights of football they would be capable of, coach Deschamps would not have prescribed a draft game that subordinates everything to stability defensive. The order must be, like the game of France, a game of counter-attacks: he anticipated the maneuvers of the opponent, but he was rarely proactive. Deschamps has built a style of play that has made opponents but also the desperation of the public in a few moments.
Football can hardly be more rational and clear. But such teams find it difficult to reach an audience beyond the circle of their ancestral scholars. Many, but by no means all the facets that make up the great game are in the game of France. The title's victory looks like a triumph of the football lab – as if Deschamps had a six-year plan for a successful conclusion.
Just as obvious are the differences with the 1998 French predecessors, which belonged to Deschamps as a midfielder. Although the French of the time were not an exciting team, but their title had been fought in many close games, a failure still seemed possible. At the time, they owed above all the victory to the ideas of Zinedine Zidane. For him, the designer with the will be a grumpy genius, football fans outside of France could agree.
And yet the style of these French goes well beyond this final of Russia. The tactics they perfected were also the ones that shaped the entire tournament. Countering assets in Russia, waiting and anticipating were the means of choice to go far. This was not just for the French. Therefore, they are definitely a logical champion, but above all they are one: a world champion of the reaction.
