France Beats Croatia To Claim World Cup
France beat Croatia 4-2 in a dramatic World Cup final in Moscow, with Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe on the scoresheet - and a favourable VAR decision helping them to their second title.
France opened the scoring in the 18th minute with an Antoine Griezmann strike that deflected off the head of Mario Mandzukic, but Ivan Perisic levelled matters ten minutes later.
Controversy struck ten minutes before half-time when with the use of VAR Perisic was adjudged to have handled the ball, and Griezmann converted the subsequent penalty.
Pogba extended France's lead just before the hour mark, and then Mbappe became the first teenager since Pele to score in a World Cup final to add to their advantage.
An error from Hugo Lloris gave Mandzukic the simplest of chances to nick into the net, but France held on for the last 20 minutes to claim another World Cup trophy, 20 years after winning their first in Paris.
TALKING POINT
VAR. Let's finish the tournament with another debate about VAR, shall we? There were lots of odd things about this incident, not least the fact that the referee watched it back, made his way back on to the field of play - and then went to watch it again.
Critics of VAR will say the lengthy delay is indicative in itself that there was not a clear and obvious error to be corrected. At least it was not the decisive goal in the end.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Paul Pogba (France). Marvellous playmaking, sensible thinking, and crowned with a goal he thoroughly deserved.
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