After four weeks, 63 matches, and nearly 6000 minutes of action, the 2018 World Cup final is almost upon us.
France and Croatia will go head-to-head on Sunday in Moscow for the right to be called world champions. For one the game will end in jubilation. For the other heartbreak.
Les Bleus are hoping to clinch their second World Cup 20 years after the country claimed its first. Didier Deschamps was captain back in 1998, now he is manager. Victory for his talented side would make him only the third person in history to have won the tournament as a player and a coach.
For Croatia the final is a step into the unknown. They’ve never reached this stage of the competition before yet this nation of just four million could become only the ninth to have its name etched onto the trophy.
It’s almost too close to call so our friends at Football Whispers are here to take you through some of the key battles that may shape the outcome of the match.
Kylian Mbappe vs the Croatia back line
After being taken to extra-time in each of their three knock-out matches so far, Croatia have played a whole extra match worth of minutes during the competition than France.
And in Kylian Mbappe France have a forward who can take advantage of even the slightest hint of fatigue. He’s already netted three goals this tournament and tore apart Argentina in the round of 16 match.
It’s no wonder the 19-year-old is priced as the second-most likely anytime scorer in the match, at +200 with bet365.
Croatia have struck more goals in the tournament than France - 12 against ten - and they’ve been shared around. Mario Mandzukic is joint their top-scorer with two goals alongside midfielders Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric.
Mandzukic is priced at +350 to score anytime and while France have a star-studded side, they’ve often struggled carve open defences. It’s why Croatia are priced at +250 to keep a clean sheet.
Make sure to check out our odds page for the latest line on the World Cup final.
Battle of the star midfielders
Both countries have world class talent in midfield and it’s where the final could be decided.
France have Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante; two players with completely contrasting styles.
The former is an attacking midfielder who likes to drive towards goal, either to take a shot or to create chances for his team-mates. Kante, meanwhile, is a defensive player with so much energy that it’s regularly joked there must be two of him on the field. He sits in front of the defence winning back possession and breaking up opposition attacks.
Croatia, meanwhile, have Real Madrid star Modric and Barcelona playmaker Ivan Rakitic. There are few better midfielders in world football and if they are able to dictate the game, as they did in the second half and extra time in the semi-final against England, then the underdogs could pull off a shock in the final.
Battle of the goalkeepers
Neither country would be in the final if their goalkeeper hadn’t been on top-form in the knockout stages.
France’s Hugo Lloris and Croatia’s Danijel Subasic have both enjoyed magnificent tournaments and have produced vital saves when their sides have needed them most.
As well battling for the honor of being world champions, the two will be fighting to win the Golden Glove award for the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
Lloris is currently favourite, priced at -200, but a good display could see Subasic (+162) take the prize.
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