Croatia mentally strong, but France possess the

THE French and Croatian players will know that they are on the brink of history heading into tomorrow’s World Cup final. But they must not think like that.

That is the key to playing a final — you cannot think about the history going into it, only about the game itself. About your job, and the small details on the pitch that will decide the game.

How will it be different to play against a back four or a back three? Do you press just at the halfway line, or a little bit further up? Just those technical details, about what is going to be best to give your side the edge.

I remember going into the 2010 World Cup final with Holland against Spain, we would only stay focused on the technical details. Of course it was very hard, because Spain were such a good team. When you analysed them, they just had so many weapons. They were so good on the ball, their positional game was so fantastic.

Going into that final, we were not playing the best, but we were mentally in very good shape. And we could have won if Arjen Robben had scored a one-on-one with Iker Casillas. Or if we had taken another half-chance that fell to Wesley Sneijder.

Eight years on, Didier Deschamps and Zlatko Dalic must know this. They must know that they cannot put too much into the heads of their players before Sunday evening. So that the players do not get distracted, thinking about the context, and the history, and all that.

I have been very impressed by both France and Croatia over this World Cup. Croatia are so mentally strong, to have come through extra-time three times and kept going.

But I think France is by far the favourite. I think the solidity of this France team will make the difference. They are solid, and