MOSCOW — Three thoughts on France 4-2 Croatia as Les Bleus won their second World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe capped his debut World Cup by becoming the first teenager to score in the final since Pele in 1958 as France beat Croatia to become world champions for a second time.
Mbappe, only 19, scored the fourth goal in France’s 4-2 victory in Moscow to take his tally for the tournament to four goals in seven games.
He also produced some devastating bursts down the right flank for Didier Deschamps’ team to cause panic in the Croatia defence.
But in a game that looked set to be dominated by VAR decisions after France’s first two goals were surrounded by controversy, a second-half surge by the French clinched their first world title since 1998.
It was not a straightforward victory for Les Bleus, however. Mario Mandzukic’s own goal, from Antoine Griezmann’s 19th minute free-kick, gave France the lead, but it was cancelled out by a stunning Ivan Perisic goal nine minutes later.
France then regained their lead on 38 minutes after a VAR review led to referee Nestor Pitana awarding a penalty following a Perisic handball.
Croatia’s sense of injustice counted for little, however, with France scoring through Paul Pogba and Mbappe to go 4-1 ahead by the 62nd minute.
A Hugo Lloris error gifted Mandzukic a goal for Croatia on 68 minutes, but by that stage, France had the game won….