France – Croatia World Cup 2018 Final Tips
France against Croatia will face the final of the 2018 World Cup. Physically, the French seem to have the advantage – but mentally, the Croats are the favorite.
France and Croatia have made it: they are in the World Cup final. In the battle for the title, the Equipe Tricolore is considered a favorite, but many a guess is wrong: Croatia will neither weary nor be tactically inferior. Does the individual quality make the difference or the pure will in the end?
France – Croatia Tips
Bookmakers see the French are in front in the World Cup final, which – at least at first glance – is understandable. The team is the individually better squad, has a day longer break and had to contest in contrast to Croatia, no three extensions.
So if it were pure physique and potential quality, it would undoubtedly be the French, who are allowed to raise the trophy in the end. But success in football is a puzzle that consists of more than two parts. As soon as you realize this, you will see how much speaks against the title win of France rather than for it.
The advantage of the better physique is likely to be secondary in a game of this magnitude: In a World Cup finals, every player, no matter how boisterous, more active reserves and conditionally outgrow themselves. The Croats proved that already three times in a row, it would be nasty to believe that just the finale degenerates to the exception.
The high operational readiness of Croatia is only a proof of the mental strength of the team. The mature playing field, the nerves from the penalty spot and last but not least the ability to shoot back, show impressively, from which wood this team is carved. France, on the other hand, was hardly challenged psychologically, always taking the lead and managing. The mental endurance test is still out for the young team, before the final game and memories of the lost European Championship final two years ago are expected.
That mental component can not be over-estimated in a game of this collar size. If this is taken into consideration, the picture changes – and the Croats become the probable victor.
France
The previous World Cup results: 2: 1 vs. Australia, 1-0 vs. Peru, 0: 0 vs. Denmark, 4: 3 vs. Argentina, 2: 0 vs. Uruguay, 1-0 vs. Belgium
It is not really nice to see what the French offer at this World Cup. But it is successful – possibly even world champion. Despite a high-profile offensive held coach Didier Deschamps firmly to his credo that reads: Defense first.
With defensive-oriented result football, the French drew their opponents’ teeth, one after the other. First, work victories in the preliminary round matches against Australia and Peru, before they made the group victory with a bleak zero number against Denmark perfect.
In the subsequent knockout stage, the team showed first nerves, allowed Argentina turned the French lead into a backlog. Under pressure, the offensive potential of the team was finally revealed: Within a few minutes, the team scored three goals and thus secured the progress.
Against Uruguay then the return to Deschamps’ motto: Defend Safely, then comes the rest. A header by Rafael Varane after a free kick and a blunder of the Uruguayan keepers sealed the next success.
In the semi-final against Belgium was again little to see of French offensive art. Instead, again was a center-back, this time Umtitti, who scored the decisive goal again after a standard situation, this time a corner.
The bottom line is that the French are acting defensively on an elitist level. This is the main reason for the entry into the final. There, it seems, the team will once again reflect on their defensive qualities and hope in the attack on brains from Griezmann, Mbappé & Co. Not every year, such a tournament schedule for the world title enough. This is the case in 2018, however.
Possible lineup France
Nothing new in France: coach Deschamps let start at the World Cup, the same eleven men. The finale will not be an exception.
Lloris – Pavard, Varane, Umtitti, Hernandez – Kanté, Pogba – Matuidi, Griezmann, Mbappé – Giroud
Croatia
The previous World Cup results: 2: 0 vs. Nigeria, 3-0 vs. Argentina, 2: 1 vs. Iceland, 4: 3 i.E. vs. Denmark, 4: 3 i.E. vs. Russia, 2: 1 vs. England
The Croats are an emotional people. They are generally considered spirited, and so it is fitting that the Croatian national team was usually not far away when it was dramatic at this World Cup.
Three knockout games denied the Cockasti to the final. The team had to go on extra time three times, twice on penalties. The Croatian way to the final was tough, long and heartbreaking.
That it would be so difficult for the Croats, had not been foreseen during the group stage. Without problems, the team plowed through the preliminary round, mind you in one of the tournament’s most crowded groups. Especially the 3-0 gala against Argentina catapulted the Croats in view of the disappointing appearances of the competition in the favorite debate.
With the beginning of the knockout stage, however, Croatia’s game became less respectable. The opponents were always better able to adjust to the game-strong troupe. The control center, consisting of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, provided less impetus, the high-class attack hung more and more in the air. At the same time, however, the Croats also understood to take their strengths from the respective opponent.
For example, all three knockout matches with Croatian participation did not turn out to be sizable but highly charged: Rakitic scored the decisive penalties against Denmark and Russia, and Mandzukic became a hero against England with his winning goal in injury time. Thanks to him Croatia is the first time in the country’s history in a final. There you are the supposed outsider, but with this role, the team will have no problem.
Possible lineup Croatia
Zlatko Dalic will have to consider whether to put up a risky position against the defensively oriented Frenchmen in order to strengthen their own attacking game or whether he – like England – is concentrating the center. Initially, his choice will probably fall on option two.
Subasic – Vrsajlko, Vida, Lovren, Strinic – Brozovic, Rakitic, Modric – Rebic, Mandzukic, Perisic
Prediction Today: Victory for Croatia
Odds: 5.00