Youth is served as France tops Croatia
MOSCOW — Taking turns sliding across the rain-soaked turf holding the World Cup trophy tight, teenager Kylian Mbappe and the rest of France’s players acted like the youthful bunch they are.
Nothing, not a Pussy Riot protest nor a postgame downpour that soaked Russian President Vladimir Putin, was going to stop the party. It carried on long after a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia on Sunday. In the locker room with French President Emmanuel Macron striking poses with players, then in a champagne-spraying, watersplashing interruption of coach Didier Deschamps’ news conference.
“Sorry! They’re young, and they’re happy,” said Deschamps, like a proud father.
Deschamps had good reason to indulge them. His team is mostly aged 25 or under and can return almost intact to defend its title in 2022 in Qatar.
“Our children are going to be very proud,” forward Antoine Griezmann said. “The World Cup, it’s a lot.”
Mbappe, 19, became only the second teen after Pele to score in a World Cup final.
Mbappe had just shown his electrifying speed in the 52nd minute, when play was held up by four protesters who ran onto the field. Russian punk band Pussy Riot later took credit for the incident — watched from the VIP seats by Putin, whose government once jailed members of the activist group. Charges were filed against the group Sunday, too.
Putin was later on the field to award medals to the players in a ceremony soon drenched in rain and joy. Gold confetti stuck to the soaked Les Bleus as they paraded the gold World Cup trophy around the Luzhniki Stadium, a final act of an enthralling tournament in which Croatia reached its first final while powers Brazil, Germany and Argentina went home early.
Mbappe sent a right-footed shot from 25 yards past goalkeeper Danijel Subasic. The goal put France up 4-1, closing the door on Croatia, which had been the better team until Mbappe took control.
The only other teen to score in a World Cup final was Pele, who was 17 when Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 in 1958. Mbappe, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain in the French league, was born months after France won its only other World Cup title in 1998.
“I have a whole story to write,” Mbappe said. “This is just the beginning.”
Paul Pogba and Griezmann, France’s two other key creative players, also scored. Pogba played a disciplined role in Russia, but his natural joy was evident celebrating his 18-yard shot, and leading the champagne shower for Deschamps.
But Mbappe put the match out of reach with a furious passage of play in the second half. In the 59th, a run from Mbappe started a play that ended up with Pogba on the edge of the penalty area. With his second attempt, the midfielder curled his shot beyond Subasic.