Croatia will be hard nut to crack for France when European Power house of football meets the tiny nation meets in the final of FIFA World Cup 2018 at Luzhniki Stadium Moscow.
France won world cup once in the past in 1998, Croatia reached the final for the first time.
Croatia reached its first World Cup final with a 2-1 extra-time win over England on Thursday morning (AEST), a day after Les Bleus beat Belgium 1-0.
A victory in the final for Croatia known for its red-and-white chequered jerseys would be the nation’s greatest sporting moment since breaking from Yugoslavia to become an independent state in 1991 — a year after its national soccer team started playing.
France is a European football powerhouse. The team is able drawing from a population of about 65 million. Croatia has just over four million people, the fourth- smallest of the 32 World Cup teams ahead of Panama, Uruguay and Iceland. It has a chance to be the least-populous nation to win since Uruguay took the title in 1950, when it was a nation of just over two million.
Croatia reached the semi final stage for the only other time in 1998 when it appeared on the world cup stage of football for the first time. They ultimately lost to Germany. This time grouped with Argentina, Croatia rocked the soccer world upsetting Argentina 3-0. They entered the group of 16 topping the group which also had Iceland and Nigeria. They got across Denmark in the group of 16 match and host Russia in the quarter final through penalty shoot out.
On the other hand one of the pre tournament favourites France had relatively quiet passage from group C have Australia, Peru and Denmark. They started demonstrating their prowess from the pre quarter final when they knocked out Messi inspired Argentina. France also sent another South American giant back home getting better of them in the quarter final for a great semi final with another in form team Belgium in the semi final.
Adjusting to appropriate strategy France hurdled over Belgium.
France has won the World Cup only once, in 1998, its team conjures the names of all-time greats like Zinedine Zidaneand Thierry Henry. Its current “golden generation” of young attackers features three of the six all-time most expensive players, and one of them, Ousmane Dembélé, is riding the bench.
France hasn’t played up to its level so far, putting in a few disjointed, laboring performances, but it hasn’t had to. In a pinch, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé can singlehandedly change the course of a match, and at full flight, they’re two of the most entrancing, ecstatic players to watch.
Probable Starting XI
France: (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi; Giroud;
Danijel Subasic has been one of the unsung heroes for Croatia in the tournament, putting in some splendid performances between the sticks.
However, he will need all the support and protection that he can get from the back four of Sime Vrsaljko, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida and Ivan Strinic. The Croatian deep defense must contain the likes of Mbappe and Griezmann who may wreak havoc with their speed.
Inter Milan star Marcelo Brozovic should start as the deepest of the three midfielders, to provide the defensive shield to the backline and allow the partnership of Modric and Rakitic to influence the proceedings in the attacking half of the pitch. How the duo come out in the battle against Kante and Pogba will have huge repercussions on the outcome of the game.
Rebic has been a bright spark for Croatia throughout the tournament and will look to cause some trouble to the French backline with his pace and movement from the right-flank with Ivan Perisic looking to do likewise on the opposite wing. Through the middle, it will be the hero of the last game, Mario Mandzukic, who will offer great industry and poacher’s instincts.
Probable Starting XI
Croatia: (4-3-3): Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic; Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic; Rebic, Mandzukic, Perisi
Experienced France already have big match temperament but tiny nation Croatia has already become darling of billions all over the world. Players of the two teams are mates in different European teams in major leagues. They know their games so well. Winning final is a major milestone. It will be a huge huge achievement for Croatia while for France it will be their second title.
The odds are heavily in favor of France but given the nature and trend of tournament, Croatia surprising France and the world is also not unlikely.
BDST: 1240 HRS, JUL 15, 2018
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