World Cup Final Preview

In the first semi final in Russia, France took on Belgium, in another highly anticipated match. France beat Uruguay in the quarter final stage 2-0, and have looked immense all tournament long. Belgium needed to beat Brazil in the last round, and did so in style, with a 2-1 win. Belgium too, have played well, and this matchup between neighbors had the potential to be one of the games of the tournament. Proceedings began rather slowly, with each side trying to feel out the other. It would be the French who would take the lead through a Samuel Umtiti glancing header. France continued to look threatening on the break, but their forwards seemed a tad off in the final third, with Olivier Giroud a particular culprit. Belgium arguably dominated the game, and did force some good saves from Hugo Lloris, but France seemed comfortable with allowing shots from distance. Kevin De Bruyne returned to his poor form that was only briefly lifted against Brazil, and Belgium’s only real producer of chances was Eden Hazard. N’Golo Kante had yet another immense game for France, completely taking Belgium’s midfield out of the game, and Blaise Matuidi continued his outstanding tournament thus far. Matuidi is one man for Les Bleus who seldom gets the credit he deserves for his hard work in each match, and could be France’s unsung hero once again should they win the World Cup, however he left the game against Belgium with what looked like a concussion, so his eligibility for the final is in question. France won the game 1-0, sending them to their first final since 2006. Belgium would head to the third place playoff. Given proceedings thus far in the competition, this was a fair result, and France remain favorites to leave Russia with silverware.

England faced Croatia in the second semi final. The Three Lions breezed passed Sweden in their quarter final game, and were favorites to advance in this match. This was largely because their opponent Croatia had played almost a full game more than England, with both their Round of 16 and quarter final matches going through extra time, to penalty shootouts. Croatia were also carrying a handful of niggling injuries heading into the game, and despite their electric midfield, many wrote them off from the beginning. England took the lead in the 5th minute with a fantastic free kick goal from Kieran Trippier. England remained strong going forward, and Croatian goalkeeper Daniel Subasic had to remain on his toes for the entire first half. Croatia would find an equalizer just after the hour mark, when Ivan Perisic caught the English defenders sleeping, and ghosted in behind to tap in a cross from Sime Vrsaljko. This galvanized the Croats, and they pressed for the remainder of the regulation time, with Jordan Pickford producing some world class saves to keep England in the tie. The match would head to extra time, and many thought this would be the time when Croatia would hit a wall. This looked like it would be the case, with Ivan Strinic leaving the game with some kind of injury early on into the first period. Despite this, Croatia battled on through extra time, and found what would be the winning goal, when Mario Manduzkic took a chance on a through ball, and beat Pickford to the kick, slotting home and sending Croatia to the final. Heartbreak for England, and the trophy would not be “coming home” like many had dreamed. After the game, Luke Modric explained to reporters that the lack of respect that Croatia had been given by much of the press had been something that had really put fire in the team’s belly. He went on to say that England had already begun planning for the final, and had come into the game expecting the Croatia team to just roll over. England’s lack of humility was a major cause for their defeat, with Croatia dominating both physcially and mentally. England have always been a team to get ahead of themselves, and this was brutally exploited by Modric and his teammates, with Croatia well deserving of their victory.

England and Belgium will face off again to see who finishes in third place on Saturday, while France and Croatia will play each other for the trophy on Sunday. Belgium beat England 1-0 in the group stage, but both teams fielded weakened XI’s. With little to play for, we could again see rotation by both coaches, but England will certainly want revenge for that defeat. In the final, France will have witnessed just how ready for the fight Croatia are, and will definitely not make the same mistake as England by underestimating them. France will go in as favorites, and their speedy wingers Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann will likely see much of the ball, with the French wanting to exploit Croatia’s lack of pace at the back. Kante will need to remain at his very best to eliminate the threat of Modric and Ivan Rakitic in midfield, both of whom are not only dynamic passers, but quality dribblers too. If the pair can find space to play the way they like to however, Croatia will create chances for Mandzukic, and it will be up to him to step up and take them to give Croatia a chance at their first ever World Cup title. France-Croatia has the potential to be a spectacular game, and a perfect end to this fantastic tournament.