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
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
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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
43 mins: Croatia have a free kick, closer to the halfway line than the goal, but that doesn't stop Mandzukic getting his head to it and forcing a corner. What a game this is.
45 mins: Umtiti hobbles to the side of the pitch and won't be on to defend the corner. Three additional minutes to this first half, and the corner evades Vida who mistimed his jump
HALF TIME: France 2-1 Croatia
Mandzukic OG, Perisic drive, Griezmann penalty. We need half-time just to catch our breath. All attacking and everything you could want in a World Cup final with 45 minutes still to come. Somehow Croatia on the balance of play are the better side. Stick with us for ratings, reaction and stats.
Here's our half-time ratings for both sides in an end-to-end World Cup final
France: Lloris 6, Pavard 6, Varane 6.5, Umtiti 6, Lucas 5.5, Mbappe 5.5,
Pogba 5.5, Kante 6.5, Matuidi 5.5, Griezmann 7, Giroud 5.
Croatia: Subasic 5.5, Vrsaljko 6, Lovren 6, Vida 5.5, Strinic 5.5, Rebic 6,
Rakitic 5, Brozovic 5.5, Perisic 7, Modric 6.5, Mandzukic 5.5
What a bizarre stat. Croatia must be going into the tunnel wondering how on earth they are behind!
Controversy
For the first goal Antoine Griezmann is anticipating contact that doesn't come, goes down, and gets the free kick. France go on to score from Mario Mandzukic's own goal.
Croatia get a goal back in the form of Ivan Perisic and all seems fair. Then Perisic - who had a fantastic first half - was adjudged to have handballed in the area from a corner, a decision that looked harsh at best.
VAR may be in action for the first time in a World Cup final, but it's hardly stopped the controversy...
Miguel Delaney gives us his thoughts in Moscow:
"Desperately harsh on Croatia in so many ways, mostly that they've been the better team. No other way to put this but France are playing the defensive set-piece football of a small country who don't have their stars, while Croatia bravely looking to assertively play on their terms. It might well do enough for Deschamps... but that's it, and it's quite cowardly. It's also all the more frustrating game could be decided by two flukish goals."
Jack Pitt-Brooke with his thoughts from Moscow:
"I think Croatia have been the better team so far. Created more chances, attacked better, and only two unlucky moments have given France their two goals. I worry about Croatia’s legs, but I think they are still in this and I hope they score a second soon."
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