FIFA World Cup 2018 was a tournament of firsts.
Stereotypes were shattered when the so-called ‘underdog’ teams took over the game and all the big-shot players had to take a backseat. VAR (Video Assistant Referee) was used for the first time by hosting nation Russia in this tournament to reach better decisions. But the grandest moments that will go down in the history of football occurred last night at the final match between France and Croatia.
Croatia was on a mission to become the world’s smallest football-playing nation with a population of 4 million to win the FIFA World Cup. France, on the other hand, was trying to establish a replay of the 1998 FIFA World Cup where they won the final.
While both teams played their best and worked hard to make their respective nations proud, one cannot deny the goof-ups made by the Croatian team that worked well in the favour of France.
Within the first 20 minutes, Mario Mandzukic was unfortunate to provide a setback for his Croatian team with an own goal. Never before in the history of FIFA World Cup, never has an own goal been made in the final match. Mario Mandzukic headed past his own net from Antoine Griezmann’s free kick.
In the 28th minute of the match, Ivan Perisic managed to make the first goal for Croatia with a fine left footage strike.
An unfortunate handball from goal-scorer Ivan Perisic, though, in the 36th minute, saw France getting awarded with a controversial penalty which Antoine Griezmann calmly took advantage of.
France upped its game in the 59th minute with Paul Pogba making the team’s third goal and overall the fourth goal of the match.
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The 19 year-old French forward Kylian Mbappé, who has received a lot of praise for his performance in this world cup’s battle, made his country proud with the fourth goal in France’s favour at the 65th minute. During the match’s 69th minute, the very Mario Mandzukic, who had given the French their lead, scored a ridiculously unpredictable goal for Croatia after a blunder from the French Captain Hugo Lloris himself.
The match extended by an extra five minutes, at the end of which France won the World Cup with a score of 4-2.
While France deserved the win, the Croatian team too was applauded and given the respect they deserved. Leaders from both the nations met amicably and the Croatian President offered her congratulations. France’s Adil Rami danced around the field waving the French flag, but when he approached large sections of Croatian supporters he stopped and applauded the fans who reciprocated.
Huge ovations greeted Croatian midfielder Luka Modric who won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Kylian Mbappe also won the Fifa Young Player Award.
