Moscow, July 15 (IBNS): France lifted the FIFA World Cup for the second time in history overpowering a spirited Croatia 4-2 here at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium on Sunday.
Millions of people across the globe and the French supporters cherished another spectacular moment in sporting history in Moscow when France thrashed Croatia 4-2 in the grand final to take the Cup back after 20 years as their president Emmanuel Macron cheered all through and hugged every player at presentation area as it poured heavily from the sky.
Both halves of the game were equally thrilling with France getting an early lead when Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic headed an Antoine Griezmann free kick into his own net in the 18th minute of the match.
This was the first own goal in a World Cup final.
With 1-0 lead in the match, France players seemed to take a breath of relief but the moment of happiness remained shortlived for them as Croatia were quick in scoring the leveler.
Ivan Perisic leveled the scoreline 1-1 with his goal.
French were soon quick to take the lead once again after the 1998 winners were given a penalty as a result of VAR in the 36th minute of the final.
Antoine Griezmann scored the 38th-minute goal without a mistake as France went to the halftime with a 2-1 lead.
The French side was made to sweat and work hard on the ground by Croatians in the first half of the match. However, it was French players who dominated the proceedings in the remaining half of the game.
Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe added two more goals in the second half as France took a three-goal lead over the Croats.
Mandzukic reduced the gap to 4-2 by scoring a goal for Croatia in the 69th minute.
Croatia, however, could not make another goal in the first World Cup final they played in the history of the game.
This was the second World Cup victory by France in past 20 years.
They last won it in 1998 when they defeated Brazil in the final by 3-0 margin.
In 2006, they reached the final. However, Italy defeated them to lift the title.
Image: FIFA World Cup Twitter page
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
