France the world champion after downing Croatia
France has become champion of the world for a second time after downing Croatia 4-2 in an entertaining World Cup final in Moscow.
French sensation Kylian Mbappe became the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score in a championship final with a blistering strike on 65 minutes, which put the match beyond a Croatian side which had dominated large passages of the play.
Les Bleus had already created a small slice of history by becoming the first team to score through an own goal and to be awarded a video assistant referee (VAR) awarded penalty in the first half, converted by striker Antoine Griezmann.
But classy goals by Paul Pogba and Mbappe earned their team a win in the 20th anniversary of its maiden title.
Croatia winger Ivan Perisic scored Croatia's first through a sweet left foot half-volley to bring the match back to 1-1, while striker Mario Mandzukic — who was unlucky to concede the first own goal — benefitted from a howler by Hugo Lloris on 68 minutes to give his side a slice of hope.
More to come.
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ABC .net
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