An own goal by Mario Mandžukic had given France the lead (18’) only for Ivan Perišic to equalise with a left foot half volley (28'). A penalty by Antoine Griezmann (38') awarded after the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) following a handball by Perišic was to give France a 2-1 half-time lead. France then had the game in the bag following strikes by Paul Pogba (59’) and Kylian Mbappé (65’) before a horrible error by Hugo Lloris allowed Mandžukic (69’) to give Croatia hope once again.

 

With both sides unchanged from their semi-final successes it was Croatia that had the better of the early exchanges without causing any real scares for the French defence. Twice Perišic managed to get clear on the left but was unable to produce an effort on goal.

 

France had barely raised an attack when they took the lead. In the 18th minute Griezmann went down easily under pressure from Marcelo Brozovic. He got to his feet and curled in the free kick from thirty metres out. The ball brushed the head of Mandžukic and flew past Subašic.

 

The goal brought the game to life and from there it didn't stop. Three minutes later and Domagoj Vida met a free kick by Luka Modric but couldn’t guide his header on target.

 

Mbappé had hardly touched the ball when given the chance he got around the back of the Croatian defence in the 23rd minute but Vida was now at the other end to clear away the danger.

 

France’s lead only lasted 10 minutes. They were unable to clear a corner from Modric and Vida was able to knock the ball down to Perišic. He worked the ball onto his left foot to give himself space to fire a half volley through a crowd of players and past Lloris.

 

Following a corner in the 35th minute the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) came into play. Argentinean referee Néstor Pitana decided to change his original decision after viewing the incident. The ball had hit Perišic’s hand when challenging in the air with Blaise Matuidi following a corner from Griezmann.

 

After a long delay Griezmann kept his cool to strike the ball past Subašic to restore France’s lead.

 

Croatia was again forced to press and in the 40th minute Ivan Rakitic scuffed his shot allowing Lloris to make a comfortable save.

 

Moments before half-time Vida was again able to win the ball in the air from a Rakitic corner and although he made good contact he sent his header wide of the far post.

 

A pulsating first half that had started quietly came to an end with France leading 2-1.

 

It was Griezmann that was the first to try his luck at goal in the second period but his shot from distance was straight at Subašic. Moments later and Lloris had to produce a much more difficult save as he tipped a drive from Ante Rebic over his bar.

 

Unlike the first, this half had started at a furious pace. Brozovic sent a wonderful ball over the top of the French defence for Perišic to run on to but Lloris was alert to the danger and chested the ball away from outside his area.

 

Mbappé’s pace was almost telling in the 52nd minute when he managed to get clear of Vida but the full back recovered well and blocked the youngster’s shot on goal.

 

With the game going from end to end it was Croatia that produced the next attack. Mandžukic found a bit of room down the left inside channel but instead of homing in on goal himself he tried but was unable to pass the ball to Perišic.

 

It took him two attempts but in the 58th minute Pogba struck home his first goal of the tournament.

 

He had found Mbappé with a long ball as France’s lively number 10 again broke down the right. He managed to thread the ball to Griezmann on the edge of the area and with his back to goal he laid the ball off to Pogba who’s initial right foot shot was blocked by Vida. The ball came back to the Manchester United man and this time with his left foot he placed the ball inside the left hand post.

 

 Seven minutes later and it was 4-1. France’s full backs had not pushed forward as much as in other matches but Lucas Hernández managed to make his way down the left and squared the ball to Mbappé. Although he didn’t hit his 25 metres strike cleanly Subašic was wrong footed and couldn't’t get down in time.

 

Several Croatians sunk to the floor but in the 69th minute they had hope again. Mandžukic put pressure on Lloris after a back pass by Samuel Umtiti but France’s goalkeeper made a complete hash of his first touch knocking the ball straight into the path of Mandžukic who struck it first time into the empty goal.

 

Although Croatia were now doing most of the pressing it was France that had the next serious attempt on goal when substitute Nabil Fekir’s long range effort had Subašic sprawling to his right.

 

Croatia weren’t able to break through again with France comfortably holding on to their two goal cushion until the final whistle of a wonderfully entertaining climax to Russia 2018.

 

France are worthy winners having come through by far the tougher half of the draw. They won all of their matches in normal time and, in the knock out stages, had to overcome tough challenges in defeating Uruguay (2-0) Argentina (4-3) and Belgium in their semi-final (1-0).

 

France’s coach, Didier Deschamps has now matched the achievements of Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer by lifting the trophy as both player and coach.

 

Their all round quality has shone throughout the tournament and they return to France as worthy World Champions.