Three reasons why Croatia deserve to win the Final
Croatia competing in first-ever World Cup Final
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final is just around the corner, as 1998 winners France prepare to face first-time finalists Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Ahead of kick-off, let's take a closer look at why this Vatreni (The Blazers) team are deserving of lifting the coveted Russia 2018 trophy and writing their names in the history books of Croatia forever.
1. A miraculous collective and maximum motivation
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has done something incredible. The atmosphere in the team has never been better, something the players have repeatedly said.
They have felt like a real family during this World Cup, having been together for 50 days. The players look like they would die for each other on the pitch in the effort they put in. Despite playing in three consecutive extra time matches, they have shown that their desire to win as a collective is very high.
2. Mental strength and character
England v Croatia: Who will win? (pre-match analysis)
Denmark, Russia and England — those were three come-from-behind wins for Vatreni, with two of them coming from winning in penalty shootouts. The Croatian comeback kings dominated those games from a mental and physical perspective.
Captain Luka Modric repeatedly said: "We have shown our character." Croatia’s strength of personality will serve them well in the final against France. Every World Cup winning team throughout history has had to have a great amount of character.
3. Experience equals self-confidence
Modric is the leader of this great Vatreni generation. Besides the Real Madrid talisman, there are other stars in Dalic’s squad, including players from Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Liverpool like Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic and Dejan Lovren. With an average age of 27 years and ten months, Croatia have a lot of experience and self-confidence as well, because almost everyone has their place in their clubs' first XI. They are all well aware of their capabilities.
Three reasons why France deserve to win the Final
France competing in third World Cup Final in 20 years
When a team reaches the FIFA World Cup Final, it is because they have overcome every obstacle and shown exceptional qualities, and in doing so have turned their dreams of lifting the trophy into an attainable goal. Those preparing for the Final have every reason to believe that their names could soon be added to the exclusive list of people with the description 'World Cup winner' on their CV.
Our team reporter with France offers three reasons why Les Bleus can, must and will win the 2018 edition in the deciding match against Croatia.
1. Solidity
Both defensively and going forward, the French have impressed throughout the tournament. The stats speak for themselves:
Since the start of the competition, France have trailed in a game for a total of only nine minutes
Ngolo Kante has won back possession 48 times at Russia 2018, the most of any player at the tournament
Hugo Lloris has saved each of the last seven shots on target that he has faced
With eight victories in his last 11 matches (73 per cent), Didier Deschamps has the highest win percentage of any coach to have taken charge of at least ten matches at the FIFA World Cup
Against Argentina, Kylian Mbappe became the youngest player since Pele (in 1958) to score a brace in the knockout stages of a World Cup.
2. Team spirit
“The World Cup does not respect talent, only teams,” declared Belgium coach Roberto Martinez ahead of his side’s semi-final defeat to Les Bleus. Didier Deschamps’ men are an object lesson in togetherness.
Firstly, at the footballing level: every player can make a decisive contribution or score a crucial goal. The proof is there to be seen in the profiles of their goalscorers since the start of the knockout rounds: defenders, midfielders and forwards have all risen to the occasion.
Secondly, at the human level: as demonstrated by a squad whose substitutes flock as one to celebrate goals with their team-mates on the field of play, the only star in this team is France itself. They have been transformed from a collection of individuals into a close-knit group. From the third-choice goalkeeper to the head of security, from the starting player to the assistant coach, everyone is 100 per cent involved and committed to the team’s mission. It is the mark of a team capable of going the distance.
3. History
Twenty years after their first and only world title, the French are on the verge of repeating the trick. It is symbolic that the team standing in their way should be Croatia, still seeking revenge for a semi-final defeat during that triumphant campaign in 1998. If France were to win on Sunday, Didier Deschamps would become only the third man after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer to win the world title both as a player and as a coach.
All the ingredients for a fairytale ending are in place, and the planets seem to be aligned: 2018 will be the year of the second blue dream.
