Dubai: France came out on top in an enthralling World Cup final to break Croatian hearts at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday night.
Despite dictating play for most of the first half, Croatia found themselves a goal down when Mario Manzukic headed into his own net from an Antoine Griezmann free-kick.
Ivan Perisic got them back on level terms midway through the first half with a fine strike, but Griezmann restored France’s advantage before the break from the penalty spot after Perisic was adjudged to have handled inside the area.
Paul Pogba then added a third and Kylian Mbappe the fourth to give Didier Deschamps the distinction of becoming only the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach.
Mandzukic made amends for his own-goal with a strike at the other end but it was too little too late for the Croats.
Both sides were unchanged from their semi-final wins over Belgium and England and before kick-off, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a Croatian football shirt with the name “Putin” printed on the back.
Putin handed over the mantle of World Cup host to Qatar, whose country will stage the 2022 edition of the tournament. Qatari Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani joined Putin and Fifa chief Gianni Infantino at a Kremlin ceremony.
France's forward Kylian Mbappe (3R) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's fourth goal. AFP
Despite being the underdogs, it was Croatia who began the brighter, with both Perisic and Mandzukic going close without finding the finishing touch.
Disaster struck at the other end from France’s first real attack as Griezmann’s free-kick found the head of Perisic and the ball sailed past the helpless Danijel Subasic in goal.
The Croats refused to lie down, however, and the ball found its way to Perisic at the edge of the area following a Luka Modric free-kick and he smashed it past Hugo Lloris.
The game was being played at a frenetic pace and France struck again after the ball came off Perisic’s hand inside the area. After consulting with his VAR men behind the scenes, referee Nestor Pitana pointed to the spot.
France coach Didier Deschamps is held up by players to celebrate winning the World Cup. REUTERS
Griezmann kept his cool to send Subasic the wrong way from the spot and France once again had one hand on the trophy at the interval.
Croatia came roaring out of the blocks after the restart and Lloris came to France’s rescue three times inside the opening 10 minutes.
We also got our first glimpse of Mbappe’s sheer pace as he skinned a defender and Subasic had to be alert to block his shot.
Still Croatia refused to give up hope and kept pressing for an equaliser. However that meant they were being left exposed at the back and France punished them in ruthless fashion with Pogba sweeping home after a counter-attack from Mbappe.
France sensed their opponents were tiring after their extra-time exertions in each of their last three games and Mbappe fired in France’s fourth after 65 minutes.
So many times had Lloris been France’s saviour but he was left red faced when Mandzukic dispossessed him and reduced arrears for Croatia after 69 minutes.
But there was to be no dramatic comeback for Croatia as they fell to the turf in tears at the final whistle. There was nothing but tears of joy for France.
The victory means that Didier Deschamps, captain of the 1998 side, becomes the third man to win the World Cup as player and coach after Brazil's Mario Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer.
It was the highest-scoring final since England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in 1966 and the highest in normal time since Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 60 years ago. The landmarks came thick and fast in the first half too.
Own goal
Croatia had started full of energy but fell behind when Mandzukic, who scored the extra-time winner against England in the semi-final, became the first man to score an own goal in a World Cup final when a Griezmann free kick skidded in off his head in the 18th minute. It was the 12th own goal of the tournament.
Croatia's Luka Modric and teammates at the end of the final match. AP
That meant it was the fourth successive knockout game that Croatia had conceded first but Perisic, who got the equaliser against England, was on hand again to level the scores 10 minutes later, smashing in a low shot after Sime Vrsaljko had headed Luka Modric's free kick across the box.
But it was then Perisic's turn go from hero to zero when he flapped an arm at a corner and, after a VAR review, Argentine referee Nestor Pitana awarded the 28th penalty of the tournament, another record, which Griezmann stroked home in the 38th minute for his fourth goal of Russia 2018.
That made it the highest-scoring first half since 1974, when West Germany led the Netherlands 2-1 - also the final score then.
It was harsh on Croatia, who had made most of the running, and they were on top again after the break, continually winning their one-on-one duels in the air and in every tackle and forging forward in the French box with plenty of variety.
But France's defence, so impressive all tournament, held and they went 3-1 up on the hour as Mbappe and Griezmann combined to set up Pogba on the edge of the box. His right-footed shot was blocked but he coolly curved the rebound in with his left.
After three successive extra-time knockout games the chances of another Croatian comeback seemed slight but they looked dead and buried six minutes later.
Lucas Hernandez tore down the left to set up Mbappe who drilled a low shot beyond keeper Danijel Subasic for the 19-year-old's fourth goal of the tournament.
An awful blunder by Lloris revived Croatia, as the French keeper tried to dribble around Mandzukic only for the striker to tap the ball straight into an unguarded net.
Croatia, beaten by the French in the semi-finals in their first World Cup appearance in 1998, continued to press but their energy was sapped and France safely held out for the victory.
On-field protest
Sunday's match was briefly interrupted by an on-field protest during the second half that Russian punk band Pussy Riot later took credit for.
Pussy Riot, a Russian punk rock group that rose to global prominence with their daring outdoor performances critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2012, claimed responsibility for the second-half disruption.
With inputs from wires
