July 15, 2018, the world was in suspense. The eyes of billions of people were fixed on the screens; whether they were crowded in the city center or the darkened living rooms, they were all in the same place: Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. This was not a simple football game; it resulted from a month-long festival of sports, emotions and patriotism, the FIFA World Cup Final. And it was! France, a squad full of young talent and mature experience, played against Croatia, a small state that had won the hearts of millions of people with their amazing resistance and the will to fight. It was a match of history, a game that was not to be forgotten by its goals but by the drama, the controversies, and the emotional ups and downs.
The Road to Glory: How They Got There
Before plunging into the exciting finals, one must learn about the fantastic paths both teams went through to reach such a summit. France with their tactical discipline and individual brilliance guided by manager Didier Deschamps, made their way through the tournament. They finished first in Group C, beating Australia and Peru and drawing with Denmark. Their path to the knockout stage was full of tough teams. In the Round of 16, they played against Argentina, and this was a seven-goal thriller that they won 4-3 with a fast and clinical scoring machine, Kylian Mbapp. Then they had thrashed Uruguay 2-0 in the quarter-final and beaten a powerful Belgian team 1-0 in a nail-biting semi-final. France lived through those days of brilliant attack and dogged defence, and were a full-grown and equal people.
Croatia’s path was even more incredible as a testament to their resilience and willpower. They were the underdogs that did not go as others would have expected. Having won Group D with an unblemished record, including a gorgeous 3-0 thrashing of Argentina, they gave some indication of their capabilities. However, they showed their grit in the knockout rounds. Every one of their knockout games lasted into extra time; two of them even ended with nail-biting penalty shootouts. They beat Denmark in the Round of 16 and hosted Russia in the quarter-finals on penalties, thus proving their resilience under great pressure. They played against England in the semi-final, and after being behind, they managed to overcome them in extra time to win the game 2-1, and this match put their country in delirium. By the time the team got to the final, Croatia, motivated by the impressive captain, Luka Modric, had already played an extra game, more than France, which created another level of interest in the upcoming match.
Grand Stage: Luzhniki, Moscow
This was the great Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in which this epic final was played. The stadium, with its capacity of more than 78,000, was the cauldron of noise and color, filled with the fans of both countries and the neutrals who wanted to see the history. It was electric, a hum of anticipation, hope and nervous energy. The pitch was immaculate, the weather was partly cloudy and warm, and the conditions were ideal for a football spectacle. The scene was all pre-adjusted to what was bound to be an epic confrontation.
The First Half: Goals, Drama and Controversy
The game started as both teams exhibited signs of nerves and excitement. Despite their fatiguing journey, Croatia began promisingly, pushing France far up the pitch and keen to stamp their high-energy brand of football. France, however, drew first blood, which would later become a matter of debate. It came in the 18 th minute when France was awarded a free-kick just outside the Croatian penalty area. Antoine Griezmann came in and curled a threatening ball in the box. This was a terrible turn of events for Croatia as the ball hit the head of their striker, Mario Mandzukic, and hit his own goal. This was an own goal, the first in history to ever happen in a World Cup final, and it had France ahead 1-0. The objective was contentious because most people believed that the free-kick was won by Griezmann, who had dived, but the referee was correct.
Croatia, however, did not want to be discouraged. Their strength, which had always been a character of their tournament, came out immediately. Only 10 minutes later, they scored their equalizer. Croatia was given a free-kick, and the ball was played to Ivan Perik to the edge of the penalty area. Peri isic, with a sublime touch to move the ball, followed by a strong shot with his left foot, hammered it by the French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Croatian cheers overloaded the stadium, and the game was tied 1-1. It was a moment of raw quality, which demonstrated Croatia can answer to pressure.
It was not the end of the drama, though. Another contentious scene took place in the 38th minute. A French corner resulted in a box scramble and the ball seemed to hit the hand of Perisic. Pitana, the referee, indicated the penalty spot after a long consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system used at the World Cup in 2018. This was a very controversial decision, with most of the pundits and fans claiming it was an unintentional handball and could not have deserved a penalty in a World Cup final. However, the spot-kick was taken by Antoine Griezmann. He had nerves of steel, and with a calm head, he made the goalkeeper the wrong way, sending the ball into the net. It was 2-1 again, and France was leading and the first half went to its end with a score that made Croatia feel unlucky, but with a hope to see much more action.
The Second Half: France Gets in Charge
The second half started with Croatia pressing to get a goal to level the score and get over the disputed penalty. They went at it again, and this time with renewed intensity, but the defense of France was solid and organized by the old and trusted Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti. The French midfield (with the energetic N’GOLO Kante and Paul Pogba) did not stop trying to disintegrate Croatian attacks and initiate their rapid counter-attacks. It was a very exciting end-to-end game as both teams had opportunities, but France gradually began to take control.
Then, in the 59th minute, France struck a devastating blow. Kylian Mbapp covered the right wing with his blistering speed, burning Croatian defenders in his tracks. He returned to Antoine Griezmann, who passed off to Paul Pogba outside the penalty box. Pogba scored the first but saw his shot blocked only to snatch the rebound, curling a gorgeous left-footed strike under the diving Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subašić. GOAL! France was leading by 3-1! It was pure delight on the part of the French fans and a big blow to Croatia who had so braved the battle.
In six minutes, the French were in a state of frenzy. Kylian Mbapp, a menace throughout the tournament, inscribed his name in the history books. He got the ball outside the box, took a touch and then scored a low, hard shot that flew past Subašic and into the far corner of the net. GOAL! Now France had the lead 4-1! At only 19, Mbapp was the second teenager ever to score in a World Cup final, along with the legendary Pel. It was a sensational event, the dawn of a new world superstar at its largest platform.
Fightback of Croatia and the Final Whistle
Croatia was not ready to surrender despite the three goals they were trailing. Their morale could not be broken. They got a lifeline in the 69th minute. Usually, so dependable, French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris slipped up. He back-passed and attempted to dribble around Croatian forward Mario Mandjukic, but the latter stole the ball and slotted it into an unmarked goal. GOAL! Croatia scored one back, that was 4-2! It was a moment of hope for Croatia and a reminder that in football, anything is possible until the referee blows the final whistle.
In the last 20 minutes, Croatia did everything possible to beat France. They charged repeatedly and gave the French defense a few anxious moments. The atmosphere in the stadium was thick. Each clearance, tackle, and save was epochal. The French players were wearing out but defended with unbelievable spirit because they knew the World Cup trophy was within their reach. They soaked up the pressure, cleaned their lines and ran down the time. The last few minutes were an eternity for both groups of fans.
Then, as it seemed, there came the last whistle of the referee after an eternity. The match was finished! France was the 2018 FIFA World Cup champion! It was 4-2. The French players broke out in euphoria and embraced one another, leaped with happiness and fell to the pitch in utter fatigue and ecstasy. The Croatian players have been very gracious in loss, congratulating their opponents first and then deferring to their own very passionate supporters, who cheered them on their heroic performance during the tournament.
The Aftermath: Heroes and Champions
The subsequent sets were both euphoric and respectful admiration. The French team, captained by Hugo Lloris and managed by Didier Deschamps, went to the podium to accept their medals and, lastly, the bright FIFA World Cup trophy. Confetti fell, fireworks ignited the Moscow sky, and the French players danced, sang, and cheered, winning their second World Cup 20 years after their first wins on home territory in 1998. Didier Deschamps also made history by becoming the third in World Cup history to have won the World Cup as a player and a manager, which is quite impressive.
Antoine Griezmann scored the decisive goal, provided an assist, and was appointed Man of the Match due to his excellent performance in the final. But the personal accolades were not finished. Luka Modric, a Croatian player who led his team to failure, still received the Golden Ball, noting him as the best player in the tournament. That was the hallmark of his amazing leadership and talent and his amazing efforts during the fairytale run of Croatia. Kylian Mbapp, who scored four goals in the tournament, at least one in the final, was named the Best Young Player, securing his reputation as a future game star.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup final was a match that had it all: early goals, controversial decisions, magnificent strikes and an explosive comeback bid. It revealed the offensive capabilities of France and the never-give-up spirit of the Croatian. It was a befitting climax to a tournament that will be remembered long after, a game that will be re-simulated and talked about years after. It was a dream come true for France, a time of national unity and pride. To Croatia, it was a heroic adventure, making millions of fans believe that the most vulnerable nations can climb to the top of the footballing world aided by passion and perseverance. That was a historic day in the Luzhniki Stadium as the world witnessed the best of football.