World Cup final 2018: Manchester United, youth, and own goals: the records broken as France beat Croatia

France beat Croatia 4-2 in an emphatic final which broke a number of records

Jack Watson
Sunday 15 July 2018 14:16 EDT
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Pitch invaders interrupt play in World Cup final clash between France and Croatia

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France beat Croatia 4-2 to win the World Cup in a record-breaking final in Moscow.

Mario Manduzkic scored an own goal but Ivan Perisic quickly made up for that and levelled the score with just 28 minutes on the clock. Griezmann scored a penalty after a VAR review, then Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe chipped in with strikes.

Mandzukic scored in the right net in the second half with one of the most bizarre goals of the tournament. He blocked Hugo Lloris’ clearance and the ball diverted into the net to set up an exciting finish.

The thrilling final is a hot favourite to be the game of the tournament, and there were many record breaking moments.

  • Mandzukic’s became the first player to score an own goal in a World Cup final. Griezmann’s curled free kick from the right flank was headed into his own net by the Croatia and Juventus forward who was stretching to clear the ball. The own goal was also the 12th of the tournament, doubling the previous highest total, six in 1998.
     
  • Paul Pogba became the first Manchester United player to score in a World Cup final. Surprisingly, Pogba became only the third United player to win a World Cup, joining, Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles who won with England in 1966. The United and France midfielder also became the first Premier League player to score in a World Cup final since Arsenal’s Emmanuel Petit scored for France in the 1998 final.
France win their second World Cup after beating Croatia 4-2
France win their second World Cup after beating Croatia 4-2 (AP)
  • Mbappe continued his fine form in Russia and joined Pele as the only teenager to score in a World Cup final. Pele was one year and 42 days younger than Mbappe when he scored in the 1958 final, which Brazil won.
     
  • Video Assistant Referee was used for the first time in a World Cup final. The VAR technology was first used in the World Cup when France were awarded a penalty against Australia in their first group match. In the final, the referee Nestor Pitana did not initially penalise Perisic for appearing to handle the ball in the penalty area. The referee reviewed the incident on the monitor on the side of the pitch and made up his mind, checked again, then awarded a penalty, which was converted by Griezmann.
Didier Deschamps guided France to World Cup glory after Euro 2016 heartbreak
Didier Deschamps guided France to World Cup glory after Euro 2016 heartbreak (REUTERS)
  • Didier Deschamps became the third player to win a World Cup as a player and manager. Deschamps captained France to glory in 1998, and joins German Franz Beckenbauer and Brazilian Mario Zagallo. Beckenbauer captained Germany in the 1974 final and won as a manager in 1990 after losing the previous tournament final to Argentina. Zagallo won the World Cup twice as a player, in 1958 and 1962. He returned to guide the Brazilian side to victory in 1970 as manager.

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