World Cup D-Day
Key matchups in today’s France vs Croatia final
Atime): LOOK at the matchups in today’s World Cup final between France and Croatia. Kick-off is 10 a.m. (Ja
GOALKEEPERS
French fans were concerned about Hugo Lloris, who set the tone for a shaky season with Tottenham last August when he allowed Marcos Alonso’s 10-yard shot in the 88th minute to slip under his body, giving Chelsea a 2-1 Premier League win. However, he has rebounded for several big saves in the World Cup. Notable stops were diving to get a hand on Martin Caceras’ 44th-minute header in the quarter final against Uruguay and to tip Toby Alderwerield’s shot around a post in the 22nd minute of the semi-final against Belgium.
Croatia’s Danijel Subasic, a veteran of 6 12 ¼ seasons with Monaco, was Ligue 1’s goalkeeper of the year in 2017. He became the first keeper to win consecutive World Cup shoot-outs since Argentina’s Sergio Goycochea in 1990. In the round of 16 against Denmark, he dived right to knock the opening kick by Christian Eriksen off a post, dived right against to knock away Lesse Schone’s offering on the fourth kick, then dived left but got his legs on Nicolai Jorgensen’s kick.
Edge: France
CROATIAN DEFENDERS VS FRENCH ATTACKERS
Olivier Giroud tops Les Bleus’ attack, but the player to watch is 19-year Kylian Mbappe, who has displayed dynamic pace from the right flank. He scored a first-half goal in the 1-0 win over Peru in the group stage and the final two goals in the 4-2 victory over Argentina in the round of 16.
Croatia starts Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida in central defence, with Sime Vrsaljko on the right and Ivan Strinic on the left. England’s Raheem Sterling was able to create space in the semifinal, and Mbappe should prove even more difficult to contain.
Edge: France
MIDFIELDERS
Luka Modric, dominating matches at age 32, has had the best midfield distribution in the tournament, perhaps the best at the World Cup since Spain’s Xavi Hernandez in 2010 and Italy’s Andrea Pirlo in 2006. Ivan Perisic on the left flank was the difference in the semi-final, tying the score when he outhustled defenders to score the equaliser and feed Mario Mandzukic for the goahead goal. Ivan Rakitic has made probing runs from a deeper midfield position.
Ngolo Kante and Paul Pogba play in deeper midfield roles for France and will have to prevent Modric and Rakitic from exposing Les Bleus’ back line to breakaways.
Edge: Croatia
CROATIAN FORWARDS VS FRENCH DEFENDERS
Mandzukic is a poacher, latching on to a loose ball in the penalty area to score against Denmark, then splitting the English defence after a failed clearance to score the go-ahead goal during extra time in the semifinal. Varane and Samuel Umtiti are in the middle of the French backline with Benjamin Pavard on the right and Lucas Hernandez on the left. Offence from defenders has been important for Les Bleus. Pavard’s equaliser against Argentina, a 20-yard shot on a half-volley, may be the goal of the tournament. Umtiti scored the goal in the 1-0 semi-final win over Belgium when he outjumped Marouane Fellaini to head in a corner kick. Edge: Croatia
PICK
France have one of the youngest teams, with an average age of just 26. Croatia’s midfield spine is at its peak or just past. Mbappe will prove too much for Croatia.
France 3-1.