Can Croatia create history on Monday morning to become a first-time winner of football’s ultimate prize, the FIFA World Cup? To do so it will have to deny one of the pre-tournament favourites, France.

It has been a remarkable World Cup for the tournament dark horse, reaching its first ever World Cup final, just 20 years after their first World Cup finals tournament, when they finished in third place.

Croatia is a team full of experience, packed with big name stars who play for some of Europe’s top clubs. There’s a sense that this is their Golden Generation, and that for a number of players – Modric, Rakitic, Subasic, and Mandzukic – this will be their last chance to win football’s ultimate prize.

They’ve come through three tough matches against Denmark, Russia, and England which went to extra time, two of which ended in penalties. Having triumphed in those matches, the team has great self-belief and a sense of destiny in this tournament, which could help counteract the fact they’ll be facing a younger, fresher France team which has played essentially 90 minutes less than the Croatians.

One of the main factors in this match will be how France deals with Croatia’s strength – its midfield, particularly the talented duo of Luka Modric, and Ivan Rakitic.

England’s tactic of playing long diagonal balls out of defence to Raheem Sterling worked well to minimise the midfield contest in the opening half hour of their semi, but once Croatia worked out how to defend those balls, both Modric and Rakitic started to find space and move the ball around, making Croatia the more threatening of the two teams.

France has a world-class midfield of its own with the tireless Kante, the world’s best at breaking up the play, aided by Matuidi allowing Paul Pogba more attacking freedom than he enjoys at his club. It effectively shut down an excellent Uruguayan midfield and controlled the threat of Argentine captain Lionel Messi en route to the final.

France can rightly argue it has reached the final through the most difficult half of the draw, having to overcome Argentina, Uruguay, and Belgium. Under Deschamp, against such opponents, they’ve been clinical and conservative in their approach often relying on their ability to hurt opposition with lightning counterattacks. In their semi against Belgium, both Giroud and Greizmann dropped deep into the midfield to help defend.

As much as France will be trying to take the Modric factor out of the game, Croatia’s chances may hinge on how well they’re able to deal with the Mbappe factor. The French prodigy has produced match-winning performances in this tournament.
As an interesting aside, the final match will see several teammates at club level line up on opposing sides for their respective nations.

French defender Varane and forward Ousmane Dembele and Croatia’s Rakitic are all Barcelona teammates, while French centre back Varane will be up against his Real Madrid team mates in Luka Modric and Kovacic. France’s Blaise Matuidi and Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic are Juventus teammates.

The only doubtful starter for both teams is Croatia’s fullback Ivan Strinic who was forced from the field in extra time against England with what looked like a groin strain.

Predicted line-ups 

  • France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Lucas, Pogba, Kante, Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.
  • Croatia XI: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Brozovic, Rebic, Modric, Perisic, Mandzukic.