At a glance

WHY FRANCE WILL WIN

Les Bleus have an average age of just over 26, one of the youngest in the tournament, and an exciting, speedy spark in 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe, who will be difficult for Croatia to contain. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris provides the ability to come up with big saves. France will have four days of rest, one more that Croatia, which also is coming off three straight extra-time matches.

WHY CROATIA WILL WIN

Luka Modric, still in his prime at 32, remains one of the world’s dynamic playmakers. He feeds Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic, who have provided important goals in the knockout matches.

PROJECTED LINEUPS France: 4-2-3-1 Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi; Giroud. Croatia: 4-2-3-1 Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic; Rakitic, Modric; Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic; Mandzukic.

WORLD CUP HISTORY

France won its only World Cup title at home in 1998, beating Brazil 3-0. Zinedine Zidane

scored two goals and Emmanuel Petit added the other. Les Blues lost the 2006 final to Italy 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. Zidane was given a red card in the 110th minute by Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo for head-butting Marco Materazzi in response to a verbal provocation. David Trezeguet hit the crossbar with France’s second penalty kick in the shootout, and Italy won when Fabio Grosso converted the Azzurri’s fifth kick. France beat Croatia 2-1 in the 1998 semifinals. Lilian Thuram scored two goals for France. HEAD TO HEAD

France has won three of five meetings, with two draws. The only competitive match in addition to the 1998 World Cup semifinals was a 2-2 group draw at the 2004 European Championship.

SUSPENSIONS

None

STATS

Goals: France 10, Croatia 12 Shots on goal: 24/26

Shots off target: 35/50 Shots blocked: 16/24 Yellow cards: 10/14

Red cards: 0/0