France overpower Croatia 4-2 to win World Cup

MOSCOW: France overwhelmed Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium on Sunday to lift the trophy for the second time in 20 years.

The French, playing their third World Cup final, were made to sweat initially and were lucky to go ahead when Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic headed an Antoine Griezmann free kick into his own net in the 18th minute, the first own goal in a World Cup final.

ALLEZ! #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/XZVFIxJMSU

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

Only one stat matters…

France have won the #WorldCup! #FRA #FRA #FRA pic.twitter.com/jAmXCvQDNe

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

Ivan Perisic levelled with a powerful shot 10 minutes later but the Croatia midfielder was then penalised for handball following a VAR review and Griezmann stepped up coolly to convert the 38th-minute penalty and put France 2-1 up.

Croatia fought hard for an hour but gradually ran out of steam after playing extra time in their three previous matches, and goals from Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe gave France a three-goal cushion.

Mandzukic pounced on a mistake by France keeper Hugo Lloris to cut the deficit in the 69th minute, making it the highest-scoring final over 90 minutes in 60 years, but Croatia could not find the net again in their first World Cup final.

The @Budweiser #ManoftheMatch for #FRACRO is @AntoGriezmann! #WorldCupFinal // @FrenchTeam pic.twitter.com/tC50z11ahF

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

FIFA Young Player Award:

🥇Kylian MBAPPE (#FRA) #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/v4eMfItkkP

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

adidas Golden Ball Award:

🥇Luka MODRIC (#CRO)
🥈Eden HAZARD (#BEL)
🥉Antoine GRIEZMANN (#FRA) #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/KQSRiwUznh

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

adidas Golden Boot Award:

🥇Harry KANE (#ENG)
🥈Antoine GRIEZMANN (#FRA)
🥉Romelu LUKAKU (#BEL) #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/iLzORGpmcd

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

adidas Golden Glove Award:

🥇Thibaut COURTOIS (#BEL) #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/S5xB7RBBdP

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

FIFA Fair Play Trophy:

🥇Spain (#ESP) #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/9ksmYMnXtA

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

⚽ #CRO captain @lukamodric10 is the best player of the 2018 @FIFAWorldCup in Russia!
👏 Congratulations to the #WorldCup Golden Ball winner! #BeProud #Croatia #WorldCupFinal #Vatreni🔥 pic.twitter.com/IR5T2xljrd

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 15, 2018

VIDEO: Intruders run on to pitch during World Cup final

The first time since 1958 we’ve had six goals in regular time of a #WorldCupFinal!

Pretty nerve-wracking for #FRA and #CRO fans, but for neutrals… how you feeling? #FRACRO 4-2 pic.twitter.com/lVZ0FXeBUZ

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

The 2018 FIFA #WorldCup winners – @FrenchTeam! #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/1ohEpD7cDq

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

Key stats:

👉 We’ve not had a #WorldCupFinal with three goals in the first half since 1974

👉 It’s the first #WorldCupFinal with three goals since 1998

So yeah, goals! #FRACRO // #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/DBfXIJQfSR

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

Several pitch invaders interrupt World Cup final

Four people briefly interrupted the World Cup final on Sunday when they ran onto the pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

They included at least one woman, while the men appeared to be wearing uniforms of security personnel.

The first penalty in regular time of a #WorldCupFinal since Zinedine Zidane in 2006! #FRACRO // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fG0CJK10TJ

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

It’s all for this. #FRACRO // #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/CXaVFvnDnE

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018