What a fitting end to perhaps the most entertaining FIFA World Cup of all-time.
Six goals were scored, the most in a World Cup final since 1966, as France defeated Croatia 4-2 in Moscow.Ā Only one other time has a World Cup final included more goals – when Brazil and Sweden combined for seven in 1958.
It’s the second time France has been crowned world champions – 20 years since their first.
Both teams will return to their countries as heroes, as the second-place finish by Croatia, a country of just four million people, is their best-ever result.
The match included a pair of World Cup final firsts, including the first-ever own goal, and the first-ever goal awarded with the use of the video assistant referee. A teenager scored a goal in this match, the second time that’s ever happened – Pele was the first.
90,000 people at the base of the Eiffel Tower right now. pic.twitter.com/7z2eA8hNch
— Mackay Taggart (@mackaytaggart) July 15, 2018
WATCH: France clinched its second World Cup title with a 4-2 win over Croatia in a dramatic final in Moscow https://t.co/jmSwnAIN1T #tictocnews #FRACRO #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/vh93AOE5zm
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) July 15, 2018
Here’s what happened.
The goals
An own goal by Croatia’s semi-final hero Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring in the 18th minute, as his head connected on an Antoine Griezmann free kick.
#FRA TAKE THE LEAD ON THE FIRST EVER OWN GOAL SCORED IN A #WorldCupFinal!! š®š®
Antoine Griezmann's free kick goes in off the head of Mario Mandzukic. pic.twitter.com/zMEqZLbBcd
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 15, 2018
Croatia answered back 10 minutes later, as a wonderful display of passing was finished off by a nifty play and a thunderous strike by Ivan Perisic.
#CRO TIES IT UP!!!!!!!!!!
Perisic SMACKS in the match-tying goal, leveling the score at 1-1 in the #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/jQPyIALNkq
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 15, 2018
Perisic was in the spotlight 10 minutes after that for a different reason. A controversial decision was made to award France a penalty after Perisic’s hand made contact with the ball in the box.
The infraction needed VAR to spot it, and Griezmann made no mistake on the penalty, giving France a 2-1 lead.
VAR STRIKES IN THE #WorldCupFinal!#FRA has been awarded a penalty shot after a handball in the box. pic.twitter.com/U0aqFowWNq
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 15, 2018
GOALLLLLLLLLL!
Griezmann buries his penalty kick to give #FRA a 2-1 lead! #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/mx5jEi1l2Z
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 15, 2018
France struck twice early in the second half, courtesy of Paul Pogba and 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe in the 59th and 65th minutes, respectively.
PAUL POGBA SCORES FOR #FRA!!!!
France takes a 3-1 lead against #CRO in the #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/ssGDqEOldA
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 15, 2018
GOALLLLLLL!!
Kylian Mbappe becomes the second teenager ever to score in a #WorldCupFinal. #FRA leads 4-1. pic.twitter.com/Eb1Am9a8Cw
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 15, 2018
Croatia pulled the game closer in the 69th minute, as Mandzukic took advantage of a terrible error by French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. But it was too little, too late.
#CRO IS NOT DONE YET!!
Mario Mandzukic gets his team back within 2. #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/JF7Mhl2BQs
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 15, 2018
Croatian captain Luka Modric was the winner of the Golden Ball Award, given to the best player in the tournament, while Mbappe was named Best Young Player. The next World Cup will take place in four years, beginning in November for the first time, in Qatar.