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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

SECOND HALF: We are back underway, France kicking from right to left

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:03

47 mins: A long ball over to Giroud who manages to bring it down, passes just too far left of Griezmann, but manages to get his shot away. Subasic equal to it. France must find a way to get their front three more involved

SAVE! Rebic forces a fingertip save from Lloris and it's a Croatia corner. It goes for a goal kick after Rebic mis-controls.

Surely Croatia must get some kind of luck in this second half?

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:06

49 mins: Absolute chaos. This is a World Cup final in a car with no brakes. No one has more than a second on the ball before they are surrounded, at the moment anywhere will do for France as they try to stem the flow of Croatian pressure.

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:08

Jonathan Liew with his view from Moscow:

"There was a moment after France had gone ahead for the first time when they had a glorious counter-attacking opportunity with Mbappe running clear down the right. For a while they had Strinic isolated, two on one. Eventually, however, Mbappe overran the ball and allowed Strinic to slide tackle him. And as Croatia began to launch their own attack, you noticed that even though they had just had a golden opportunity to overwhelm Croatia on the break, France still had seven men in their own half.

That sums up the game so far for me. France are hoping to just do enough. They aren't trying to overwhelm anybody. They're... underwhelming. If they win the World Cup through a scandalous VAR call and these tactics, it'll be a real shame."

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:09

52 mins: The first time Mbappe can get on a run, flies around Vida, but Subasic smothers his effort.

For the first time this tournament we have pitch invaders. Not really what we want to see with such brilliant football on show

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:12

54 mins: Kante OFF, Nzonzi ON for France, Kante on a yellow which may have contributed to Deschamps decision. Nzonzi so far, less than impressive in this tournament, will need to be at his very best now

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:13

57 mins: Again and again this World Cup we have wondered when France would live up to their potential. Even if they win today, it looks unlikely it will be fulfilled in this match. Football hardly inspiring the beautiful game despite the likes of Pogba, Mbappe and Griezmann in their ranks

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:16

59 mins: GOAL! France 3-1 Croatia (Paul Pogba)

He made this goal with a cross field pass that found Mbappe from within his own half, Griezmann passes back to Pogba who has ran half the length of the field, his effort is blocked but he rifles open the rebound. 

No haircuts or social media controversy, just talent. France may be underwhelming, but Pogba has stepped up in this World Cup.

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:19

A goal, finally, that doesn't come from controversy or a set piece. 

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:20

Molly Hudson15 July 2018 17:21

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