SINGING LES BLEUS!

Moscow, July 15

Energetic, disciplined and clinical, France won the World Cup on Sunday with a 4-2 victory over Croatia that, even in such a moment of achievement, still left the feeling there may be much more to come from Didier Deschamps’ outstanding young team. With key talent Kylian Mbappe just 19 years old and the second youngest squad in the tournament, this triumph could be the start of a memorable era for French football.

Deschamps was lambasted for being over-functional, even boring, two years ago when France lost to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final in Paris but his critics will be silent now.

While he has remained a coach who focuses on creating a solid organisational structure, this time he had the additional threat of Mbappe’s pace and skill to go with the cleverness of Antoine Griezmann and the physical presence and positional awareness of Olivier Giroud.

This is not the France of 1984, the European champions with the creative genius of Michel Platini and Jean Tigana and it is a less expressive team than the 1998 World Cup winners, dominated by the brilliance of Zinedine Zidane.

It is, however, a thoroughly modern team, with technically accomplished young players, a distinct identity and no obvious weak points.

“We did not play a huge game but we showed mental quality. And we scored four goals anyway. They deserved to win,” Deschamps said and it was hard to argue. Their triumph is indeed fully deserved -- there simply was no better all-round team than France in this tournament.

Not at their best 

France were not at their best in the final, with Croatia enjoying the better of the possession for long stretches and their defence struggled at times against the directness and speed of winger Ivan Perisic. It was an own goal and a harshly-awarded penalty, after video review, that put Deschamps’ side in front but once Paul Pogba had driven in the third and Mbappe added a superbly-taken fourth, the title was in their grasp. But the player who captures the imagination in this team is without doubt Mbappe, whose terrifying pace sometimes masks his excellent touch and skill. With experience, his decision-making will improve and he should be an even bigger threat in the 2022 European Championship.

Argentina and Croatia both pushed France hard and both ended up conceding four goals. That truly is the stuff of champions! — AFP

Penalty that swung the momentum 

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was used for the first time in a World Cup final to award France a 38th-minute penalty which Antoine Griezmann scored to give them a 2-1 lead over Croatia on Sunday. Referee Nestor Pitana was alerted to a possible handball and after checking the off-field screen, he decided Ivan Perisic had handled the ball in trying to clear a French set-piece. The call left many less than amused... 

We are sad but proud at the same time. We played well but the penalty knocked the wind out of us and after that it was very difficult. I just want to say one sentence about that penalty: You don’t give a penalty like that in a World Cup final. — Zlatko Dalic,  Coatoa Coach

It is too close for Ivan Perisic to react. He is not going to deliberately handle the ball. The referee took so long, so he can’t be certain. He can’t! It becomes almost laughable. Croatia have been let down but the character they have shown after each of the goals have gone in, has been brilliant.— Rio Ferdinand, Former England Defender

They say

It is really beautiful. It is marvellous. We did not play a great match but we showed a strong mental quality. We also scored four goals. We merit it. I am very happy for this team. We are coming from very far and it has not always been easy, but thanks to hard work, they are here and are on top of the world for the next four years. — Didier Deschamps, France Head Coach 

I don’t know where I am, it is great... Very happy. It was a difficult match. Croatia play a great game. We started timidly. We knew it was a World Cup Final. We got into the game and on counter attacks, we made the difference. Very happy. We look forward to lifting the cup and taking it to France — ANTOINE GRIEZMANN, France Forward 

I’m very happy. I was able to show my ambitions and our collective ambition, which was to win. It was a long road, but it was worthwhile and we are world champions and very proud. It is the life that we wanted, we are proud to make French people happy — KYLIAN MBAPPE, French Striker

We have no regrets because we were the better team for much of the game. They will be celebrating but we can hold our heads high— Luka Modric, Croatia Skipper 

2 This is France’s second World Cup trophy, the first coming 20 years ago when they beat Brazil in the final in Paris. France had then beaten Croatia 2-1 in the semifinals.

60  years since someone as young as 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe scored in a World Cup Final. This was also the highest scoring final in regular time since Sweden 1958’s finale.

Man of the match

Antoine Griezmann showed immense calm under pressure to bury his first-half penalty, while also setting up France’s opening goal.