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World Cup final preview: France the favourite to dump darkhorse Croatia

ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP / Getty

A heart-stopping chase dotted by twists and turns approaches its final stage with two continental competitors breaking free from the peloton in search of World Cup honours.

France and Croatia face off Sunday in the quadrennial showcase's finale, with both sides looking to etch their names in footballing lore. For favourites France, it's an opportunity to win a second World Cup and become one of six nations to capture the title on two or more occasions. For Croatia, a maiden victory awaits a team in its 22nd year of international competition, whose previous best was a third-place finish in 1998.

Runner-up at Euro 2016, Didier Deschamps and Co. are on the precipice of a dominant international run courtesy of a youth-oriented squad and a seemingly endless pipeline of budding talent.

Related: Why France is set to go on a dynastic international run

A prized pre-tournament pick just outside the top-tier trio of Germany, Spain, and Brazil, Les Bleus endured an underwhelming progression through the group stage but gained steam as the event continued, seeing off accomplished teams like Argentina, Uruguay, and Belgium along the way. Croatia entered the 2018 contest a popular darkhorse pick, buoyed by a star midfield and the advancement from a challenging group that gifted a relatively straightforward slate of knockout foes in Denmark, Russia, and England.

History awaits in Moscow.

How to watch

Time: Sunday, July 15 at 11 a.m. ET

TV: FOX, Telemundo (United States), TSN (Canada)

Injuries and suspensions

Les Bleus enter Sunday's match sans absentees, while Croatia trio Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic, and Ivan Strinic both face a race for fitness after picking up knocks against England. Nikola Kalinic will be watching from home.

Projected lineups

France starting XI: Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi; Giroud

Croatia starting XI: Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic; Brozovic, Rakitic; Perisic, Modric, Rebic; Mandzukic

What to watch

The last World Cup final not to require extra time was the 2002 offering in Yokohama that saw Brazil top Germany 2-0. Six of the last seven finales have ended with one or both sides failing to score in normal time, hinting at a perpetually cagey affair where dread of defeat can curb creativity.

France enters Sunday's contest with arguably the tournament's most balanced side. A youthful backline of Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, Samuel Umtiti, and Raphael Varane have shined, with the latter emerging as a world-class anchor in support of a spry and stingy Hugo Lloris. Since shifting to a 4-2-3-1, France has profitted from the exemplary play of N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, while Blaise Matuidi has been selfless in tracking back while playing an unfamiliar role out wide.

Olivier Giroud's goalless stretch continues, but not for a lack of trying, as the Chelsea No. 9 relies on stellar hold-up play and aerial wizardry to provide countless opportunities for darling duo Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe, both of whom have registered a treble of goals in Russia. Mbappe has had a breakthrough tournament that has endeared 19-year-old Paris Saint-Germain speedster to the footballing world, and the versatile attacker's success on counter-attacks is a certain threat for France's opponents.

Croatia's midfield has been the focal point of plaudits through six matches, with national hero Luka Modric the shining star of a trio that has benefitted from Marcelo Brozovic's staunch positional awareness and Ivan Rakitic's pinpoint passing.

While Pogba and Kante will have their hands full in the midfield, Croatia's wide play cannot be overlooked. Perisic has been a constant source of attacks from the left, scoring twice in Russia to go with a pair in Brazil to make the Inter Milan winger the country's second-most productive World Cup scorer behind Davor Suker. Out left, Ante Rebic has been a handful for midfielders and defenders alike, combining a penchant for getting into dangerous areas with a side of occasionally unbridled ferocity emblematic of a side who lead the tournament in yellow cards.

Croatia's back-four is not as comparatively celebrated as France's, though Sime Vrsaljko has excelled at right-back while centre-backs Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida have mitigated disaster with timely tackles and organised play.

Prediction

Part of the criticism aimed at Deschamps of late has been tethered to expectations. Since coming up narrowly short at the European Championships, France has failed to meet some forecasts that pegged the 1998 World Cup winner to take the next step. One glance at a team sheet shows a side littered with dynamic players who individually star for their respective clubs thanks to lockers stuffed with skill.

In Russia, the French have shown flashes of excellence while getting the necessary results, and if doing just enough to win is a risky flirtation with disappointment, it's also proved to be a successful formula for a team that is so difficult to break down.

After stumbling on the final stretch two years ago, France's chase for heavyweight status should see Les Bleus beat Croatia to the finish line Sunday in Moscow.

France 2, Croatia 0

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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