The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Stars step in spotlight
France seeks its 2nd title as Croatia goes after country’s first.
Kylian Mbappe MOSCOW — has electrified the World Cup with his speed and youthful exuberance. Luka Modric has coolly controlled matches in Russia with his graceful play in the middle. Whether France wins its second title in 20 years or Croatia raises the trophy for the first time today at the Luzhniki Stadium in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin and nearly a billion television viewers could turn on the play of the two stars. Mbappe, 19, has been the biggest sensation at the tournament in Russia, scor- ing three goals — including two against Argentina in the round and of 16 — creating havoc for opposing defenses with his pace and his agility. “It’s going to be the biggest match of my life, for sure,” the Paris Saint-Germain forward said Friday. Although Mbappe has impressed for France at the month-long tournament, Modric the has been rock and the spark for Croatia. When the Real Madrid mid- fielder has the ball at feet, good things seem to happen for Croatia. “Even when you think they’re going to lose, or going to crack, they always have the mentality to come back,” Mbappe said of the Croatian team. “It’s a team that plays with a lot of intensity.” France last won the World Cup title in 1998, at home. The French defeated Croatia in the semifinals that year, which until now had been the country’s best showing at the tournament. The heads of state from both countries are expected to sit with Putin. Will Smith is set to headline the closing ceremony. Croatia, 4.5 a country of million people that gained independence from the former Yugoslavia only 27 years ago, enters the final after playing three straight extra-time matches, including two nerve-racking penalty shootouts. In all three of those matches, Croatia had to recover from being a goal down. The players never gave up. “When you put the sacred Croatia shirt on you become a different person,” Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic said through a translator. “I’m not trying to say it’s a superior feeling that the French have for France, or Russians for Russia. “The best feeling is to be Croat these days and this is the source of all our strength.” While Croatia had to rally to keep advancing, France won all three of its knockout games in the regulation 90 minutes and trailed for only nine of the 540-plus minutes it has been on the field. Europe wins again: France or Croatia will become the fourth different European country to become world champion in a streak started when Italy beat the French in the 2006 final. Spain won the 2010 title in a final against the Netherlands and Germany defeated Argen- tina in 2014 to become the first European team to win the Cup in South America. Financial benefits: There is $10 million in extra prize money on the line at the Luzhniki Stadium. FIFA will give $38 million to the winning team’s national soccer federation. The runner-up gets $28 million. The total prize fund for the 32 competing teams is $400 million. FIFA gives each team at least $8 million. Midfield architect: If Rakitic’s career hadn’t led him to the World Cup final, he might have helped design Luzhniki Stadium’s recent reconstruction. Rakitic studied architecture growing up in Switzer- land, and trained at the Basel offices of Herzog & de Meuron. He said he “worked in an office that made blueprints” for the Bird’s Nest, the main stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The firm also designed the stadium for Bayern Munich that opened ahead of the 2006 World Cup.
Belgium takes 3rd
Belgium and England both leave the World Cup happy to have reached the semifi- nals. Belgium may be a little happier, though. The Belgians earned their highest World Cup finish by beating England 2-0 in the third-place match on Satur- day in St. Petersburg, Russia, as Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard scored a goal each. “These players didn’t want to rely on talent anymore, wanted to work as a team,” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said. “Their standards have been magnificent. They wanted to make the coun- try proud.” World Cup finalist France beat Belgium in the semifinals, while the Croats defeated England. Meunier’s early goal matched a World Cup record for Belgium by having 10 different players score in a tournament, something only done before by France in 1982 and Italy in 2006. Both Belgium and England were playing for the seventh time in 26 days. Meunier the scored in fourth minute, knocking a cross from Nacer Chadli past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Hazard added the other off a pass from Kevin De Bruyne in the 82nd. Toby Alderweireld denied England’s best chance of the game, sliding on the goal line to clear a shot from Eric Dier. England matched its best World Cup result — fourth in 1990 — since winning the tournament for the only time in 1966. “Today shows there’s room for improvement. We’re not the finished article. We’re still learning. We’re still getting better,” England striker Harry Kane said. “We don’t want to wait another 20-odd years to get into another major semifinal.” Belgium’s previous best finish at the World Cup was fourth, the but team outplayed England in the midfield to go one better this time. The Belgians could easily have scored more, with Pickford making a good save to stop a shot from De Bruyne in the 11th and Alderweireld volleying narrowly over the bar in the 35th. England made set pieces the cornerstone of its run to the World Cup semifinals and created chances for Harry Maguire and Dier in the second half. Neither hit the target with their headers. It time was the second England and Belgium met in this year’s tournament. In the group stage, both teams had already qualified before Belgium’s 1-0 win in Kaliningrad. England coach Gareth Southgate made five changes to face Belgium, but Danny Rose and Fabian Delph made little impact while Dier started slowly but threatened in the The second half. two replacements in Belgium’s lineup were more effective. Meunier scored and Youri Tielemans dominated the midfield.