France will look to Paris Saint-Germain prodigy Kylian Mbappé as they seek to win a second FIFA World Cup title by beating Croatia in Sunday’s final in Moscow.
Sunday, 15 July, 2018
2018 FIFA World Cup Final
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
France – Croatia 
(kick-off 17:00CEST)
The PSG forward has been the spearhead of Les Bleus’ charge to the 2018 global showpiece in the Russian capital, inspiring a side that has taken a nation to heights not reached since the victory Zinedine Zidane inspired against Brazil 20 years ago.
Unlike that final on home soil, Didier Deschamps — who, having been France’s 1998 captain, could join Franz Beckenbauer as the only man to have won the World Cup on the pitch and in the dugout — will take his side into the game knowing the weight of expectation is on them.
Drawing on his own experience, the France boss told his players to try and take the occasion in their stride.
Deschamps: ‘Right dose’
“It’s an immense pleasure and immense privilege to play such a game. There’s nothing more beautiful nor more memorable when you’re a professional player than to play in a World Cup final,” Deschamps explained. “We’re trying to prepare in the best way possible. The three key words are calmness, confidence and concentration. You need the right dose of all three to prepare tomorrow’s game in the best possible way.”
You also need your first-choice players fit, and Deschamps is fortunate enough to have that luxury too. It seems likely the former AS Monaco, Juventus and Olympique de Marseille boss will adopt the same line-up as he has for much of the campaign, deploying the collective talents at his disposal in a formidable looking 4-2-3-1 formation that has seen off Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium en route to the final.
Mbappé will feature on the left side of the attack with Antoine Griezmann centrally played behind Olivier Giroud while Blaise Matuidi will operate on the right side. With Ngolo Kanté protecting the back four and Paul Pogba pushing forward and providing a creative spark further back, optimism is high.
That is just as it was in 2016 when France reached the UEFA EURO 2016 final on home soil; Eder’s strike that earned Portugal the right to be called European champions means that optimism is tinged with caution.
Deschamps: ‘Try to adapt’
“We have already been to one final, and it didn’t go well. But nothing says that I wouldn’t have done the same thing if we had won,” said Deschamps of his pre-match preparations this time round. “I try to adapt to what I feel and what I see. We have to prepare as well as possible.”
“At the EURO, it was something new for all the players,” added captain Hugo Lloris, one of just nine players in the 2018 squad that tasted the bitter disappointment of two years ago.
“We have put in so much effort to get to where we are. We know how far we have come. We want to give ourselves a chance to win this last match. It’s with that attitude that we’re preparing.”
Ivan Perisic, once of French club FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, did not train on Saturday as the man who scored Croatia’s equaliser in the 2-1 extra-time win over England tries to shake off a left thigh injury.
Should he not make it, Marko Pjaca will play, though Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic has recovered from a minor hamstring problem and will take his place in goal for the nation France beat in the 1998 semi-finals.
“Croatia have shown incredible strength throughout the tournament, qualifying in the last three rounds after extra-time,” noted Lloris, who has seen Croatia beat Denmark and Russia in shoot-outs before the triumph over England.
“That shows there is something special in this team. They have individual talent, something they have had for generations, but they also have a very strong team. I have great respect for them. We’ll have to play the perfect match to win tomorrow.”
Probable teams
France: Lloris – Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez – Pogba, Kanté – Mbappé, Griezmann, Matuidi – Giroud
Croatia: Subasic – Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic (or Pivaric) – Modric, Brozovic, Rakitic – Rebic, Mandzukic, Perisic (or Pjaca)
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