RUSSIA 2018: FRANCE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS

GB news 24 desk//

France are the 2018 FIFA World cup champions after they beat Croatia 4-2 in a match that had everything.

One own goal, one penalty goal given by VAR, three sublime strikes, and one forget-me-moment saw Les Bleus win a second World Cup – their first on away soil. There had been six goals scored in the preceding four World Cup final matches

Russia 2018 must be the World Cup of set pieces and VAR as the final match saw goals from set pieces, either directly or indirectly and a penalty decision awarded after consultation with VAR.

France took the lead with an own goal off an Antoine Griezmann free kick.

Croatia equalised after a melee in the France box caused by Luka Modric. The control and finish by Ivan Perisic was exquisite. And then Nestor Pitana from Argentina awarded a penalty kick to France after consulting VAR on the deliberateness of Perisic’s handball. Two strikes from outside the box in the second half from Paul Pogba and teenage wunderkind, Kylian Mabappe, got France to four and a calamitous mistake from Lloris gifted Croatia their second