France is two-time world champion football. The French defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final of the Russian Cup on Sunday at the Luzniki stadium in Moscow. Mbappé made the French quarter and, at age 19, became the second youngest player to score in a final - behind only Pele, who was 17 when he scored twice in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden against the hosts .
The French national team had won the 1998 FIFA World Cup when they hosted Brazil in the final 3-0 at the Stade de France in Paris.
The achievement had a special component in the personal history of coach Didier Deschamps, who became the third footballer to become champion as a player and coach. Apart from him, only the Brazilian Zagallo and the German Franz Beckenbauer achieved such a feat.
For Croatia, the runner-up was an unprecedented feat in the country's football history. The best position in a Cup had been in the country's debut in the 1998 competition in France, when they reached the semi-finals - was eliminated exactly by the hosts.
But the generation of Modric, Rakitic, Perisic and Mandzukic overcame the childhood idols and wrote the name of the nation in the gallery of world champions.
The game
As expected, the match began with a good deal of tension. The players ran very hard and fought hard for the ball. The Croats took the initiative in the first moves of the duel.
At 2 minutes, defender Umtiti, the scorer who qualified France for the decision in a 1-0 victory over Belgium, attempted to dribble Modric in front of the area and took a kick in the Croatian shin.
Croatia attacked more, while the French closed on defense. After 8 minutes, Rebic passed for Strinic, who entered the area from the left, reached the bottom line, but was caught by the attacker Mbappé.
Three minutes later, Perisic was sent off in the area, dominated with the tip of the boot in the area, but did not have enough space to prepare the kick. If he had finished, he would certainly take the danger to the French goalkeeper Lloris.
In the first 15 minutes, Croatia, despite having spent three exhausting extensions - which together represent the time of a new match - followed in the eighth, quarter and semi-finals, ran more and acuvated the French in the field itself.
France's first offensive play came only in 17 minutes, when Mbappé dominated the right, looked at the defenders and tried to cross, but was blocked.
After 18 minutes, Griezmann fouled a free kick in the attacking half. He himself hit and striker Mandzukic, who helped the defense, deflected against his own net. Goalkeeper Subasic had no chance of defense: 1 to 0. It was the first goal against in the history of the Cups.
After the goal, France advanced the mark. At 23 minutes, young Mbappé started from the right, but was intercepted by defender Vida.
Two minutes later, there was confusion in the area of France and the ball left for Rakitic left mending. However, the Croatian kicked too high.
With 28 minutes played, Modric beating on the left side of the field, still in midfield. The ball crossed the area and Vrsaljko touched head into the area. In the turmoil between the defenders, Vida settled for Perisic, who killed with his right leg, pulled the left-hander and shot to equalize the game. The ball deviated slightly in French Varane, but the goal was confirmed for the Croatian midfielder.
