Youthful France faces veteran Croatia for title
MOSCOW » France is the established power with a young team full of speed and skill. Croatia has the veterans that have shown they can never be counted out.
The two sides will meet Sunday in the World Cup final, with France going for its second title in its third final in 20 years. Croatia, a country that gained independence in 1991, will be playing in its first.
“Tradition is there to be demolished,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said Saturday. “I’m not interested who is the opponent.”
Most consider France the favorite for the match at the Luzhniki Stadium, just like two years ago when the country’s national team faced Portugal in the European Championship final at home.
But perhaps feeling complacent after beating Germany in the semifinals, France flopped.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen again,” said France captain Hugo Lloris, who has been stellar in goal during this year’s tournament. “We are far from thinking on our side that we have already reached the goal.”
Lloris was the goalkeeper in that 1-0 loss in Paris, facing a Portugal team that had reached the final after some extra-time victories.
Croatia has done the same this year, needing penalty kicks to beat Denmark and host Russia before defeating England in extra time.
France coach Didier Deschamps has made some changes to his team, however. Fourteen, to be exact, from the 23 players who made up the squad two years ago.
Another factor in France’s favor is rest. The French had only two days of rest between the Euro 2016 semifinals and the final. This time, they have four full days to recover, one more than Croatia.
“A lot of things have changed,” Lloris said. “Especially when it comes to recovery and preparation time.”
Croatia has also played a lot more soccer in its six matches in Russia. With its last three matches going to extra time, the team has played a full 90 minutes more than France. There was also the added stress of two penalty shootouts.
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 give Chelsea a 2-1 Premier League win. However, he has rebounded for several big saves in the World Cup. Croatia’s Danijel Subasic, a veteran of 6½ seasons with Monaco, was Ligue 1’s goalkeeper of the year in 2017. He became the first keeper to win consecutive World Cup shootouts 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 to knock away Lesse Schone’s offering on the fourth kick, then dived left but got his legs on Nicolai Jorgensen’s kick. Against host Russia in the quarterfinals, he dived right but got his trailing left hand on the opening kick by Fyodor Smolov. Edge: France Croatia’s Danijel Subasic stops a shot from Russia’s Fyodor Smolov.
Luka Modric, right, 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 semifinal, tying the score when he outhustled defenders to score the equalizer and feed Mario Mandzukic for the go-ahead goal. Ivan Rakitic has made probing runs from a deeper midfield position, where he is paired with Marcelo Brosovic, but they will have to defend against Blaise Matuidi. 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. Antoine Griezmann has three goals (including a pair of penalty kicks) and two assists, one on a free kick headed in by Rafael Varane against Uruguay, yet hasn’t had a breakout game. Edge: Croatia CROATIAN FORWARDS VS. FRENCH DEFENDERS Mario Mandzukic is a poacher, latching onto a loose ball in the penalty area to score against Denmark, then splitting the English defense after a failed clearance to score the go-ahead goal. Rafael Varane and Samuel Umtiti are in the middle of the French backline with Benjamin Pavard on the right and Lucas Hernandez on the left. Offense from defenders has been important for Les Bleus. Pavard’s equalizer against Argentina may be the goal of the tournament; Umtiti scored the goal in the 1-0 semifinal win over Belgium. Edge: Croatia
France enters the final with four days’ rest and Croatia with three. Croatia played 120 minutes in all three of its previous knockout games. Edge: France
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. Antoine Griezmann centers the line behind Giroux, with Blaise Matuidi on the left. Croatia starts Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida in central defense, with Sime Vrsaljko on the right and Ivan Strinic on the left. England’s Raheem Sterling created space in the semifinal, and Mbappe should be more difficult to contain. Vrsaljko’s runs and crosses are a big part of the attack. He showed his alertness in the semi when he cleared John Stones’ header off the line in the 109th minute. Edge: France
France has one of the youngest teams, with an average age of 26. Croatia’s midfield spine is at its peak or just past. Mbappe will prove too much. France 3-1.