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As it happenedended

World Cup final 2018 LIVE France vs Croatia: France win the World Cup after six-goal thriller with Croatia - as it happened

Follow all the latest action from the World Cup final in Moscow

Molly Hudson
Sunday 15 July 2018 15:12 EDT
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Pitch invaders interrupt play in World Cup final clash between France and Croatia

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France won the World Cup for the second time in their history after defeating Croatia 4-2 in a dramatic and controversial final in Moscow.

In a match that just about had everything, France became only the sixth nation to win the World Cup more than once, with Croatia missing out on the opportunity to win their first world crown. With six goals, a VAR-awarded penalty, a politically-motivated pitch invasion and one of te youngest squads to achieve greatest, there was no shortage of talking points.

France took the lead when Mario Mandzukic headed into his own net only for Ivan Perisic to bring the game to life with an equaliser. However, he was penalised for handball in his own area and Antoine Griezmann converted the penalty, before Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe completed the win for France - though captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris still had time for a howler to gift Croatia a consolation goal.

Re-live the action below...


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What time is it?

The World Cup final will kick-off at 16:00 BST at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Where can I watch it?

The game will be shown on BBC and ITV as well as BBC Sport website/iPlayer. BBC’s coverage will begin at 15:00 BST while ITV’s starts at 14:55 BST.

Prediction

France 2-1 Croatia (AET). This will be closer than people think as Croatia will have nothing but solid belief considering their route to the final, whereas France will have the doubts in the back of their mind from what happened at Euro 2016.

Odds

France: 9/10

Croatia: 4/1

Draw (after 90 minutes): 9/4

Here's Miguel Delaney's prediction for this one

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:06

Ed Malyon with a similiar prediction. But Croatia have made a promising start...

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:07

8 mins: Mbappe getting back inside his own penalty area after Pavard was nutmegged and Croatia have a corner, Modric takes and it's another forward Giroud who gets back to head half clear. Pogba turns, collects possession and draws a crucial foul. They need to take a breath and get out of their own half here.

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:09

10 mins: An impressive opening 10 minutes for Croatia. Even N'Golo Kante dispossessed as Croatia sense they must get something early to have chance in this one, before the toll of several extra time games comes back to haunt them

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:11

15 mins: Perisic has made a really good start to this one. He's everywhere, pressurising and running in dangerous channels, and almost brought down a long ball in the penalty area. It just escapes him but perhaps he should have done better. 

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:14

15 mins: Perisic flies down the left, and only an Umtiti interception prevents Modric tapping home at the far post. Important France weather this early storm, as they look as though they are still in the changing room

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:16

17 mins: Giroud loses the ball and has to take on three Croatians to get it back. He does so and it builds some pressure and lifts the French crowd. Griezmann slips and fools the referee into blowing up for a foul. France now have a free kick around 30 yards out just to the right of goal

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:17

19 mins: GOAL! France 1-0 Croatia (OG Mario Mandzukic)

That's cruel, and not only on Croatia because of their early pressure, but also because Griezmann fooled the referee into giving the free kick. He's back on his feet and drifts a ball into the box, the Croatian defensive line is too deep, and Mandzukic manages to head it past his own goalkeeper.

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:19

21 mins: Modric with a free kick down the other end, near to the touchline and Vida attempts to head into goal but can't keep his effort down

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:21

That goal takes away all of Croatia's early momentum... 

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 16:22

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