France won the World Cup for the second time in their history after beating Croatia 4-2 in an incredible final in Moscow on Sunday that featured goals from Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe as well as a controversial VAR-awarded penalty.
In a match that had a bit of everything, Mario Mandzukic scored the first ever own goal in a World Cup final to put France in front at the Luzhniki Stadium, only for Ivan Perisic to equalise.
However, Antoine Griezmann’s penalty put France back in front after Perisic’s handball was penalised with the aid of the video assistant referee, before Pogba and Mbappe both scored in the second half.
The first team to score four times in a final since Brazil in 1970, the French could even afford to see Mandzukic pull a goal back following a ridiculous goalkeeping mistake by Hugo Lloris.
It was only expected that such a manic match would keep Twitter buzzing through the night.
It all started with Mandzukic, like most people expected, getting on the scoresheet - albeit at the wrong end.
1 - Mario Mandzukic is the first ever player to score an own goal in a World Cup final. Misfortune.#WorldCupFinal #WorldCup #FRA #CRO pic.twitter.com/rAAi0WJalq
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2018
12 - There have now been 12 own goals scored at the 2018 World Cup, double the tally of the previous highest in a World Cup tournament: six in 1998. Gifts.#WorldCupFinal #WorldCup #CRO #FRA pic.twitter.com/uavtA8c1CU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2018
France have scored from a set piece. Or as the French call it, Le Set Piece de Resistance. #WorldCup
— Tareque Laskar (@tarequelaskar) July 15, 2018
For all of Croatia’s pressing & good football, France score via a setplay. Mandzukic’s goal got them here, Mandzukic’s own goal has put them behind in the final.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) July 15, 2018
Own goal has been waiting patiently, plotting, letting everyone forget the role its played through this tournament, and came back in the Final to reclaim its throne
— Zito (@_Zeets) July 15, 2018
Croatia had come-from-behind to win their previous three knockout games. Could they do it again?
#CRO be like, one goal down so now we can begin this match
— Sidvee (@sidvee) July 15, 2018
And Perisic duly obliged...
Superb goal from Perisic. Slight deflection but definitely not the 2nd own goal ever to be scored in a World Cup final.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 15, 2018
So #wimbledon2018 done. One-sided. But Croatia are ensuring this is going to be an excellent final #FifaWorldCup2018
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 15, 2018
Aye haye haye. Persic!!! Deschamps, that’s what happens when you keep sitting deep with the kind of talent you have, the opposition will keep coming at u & get their opportunity.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) July 15, 2018
Perisic what have you just done?! Unbelievable strike in a #WorldCup final!!!
— Spencer FC (@SpencerOwen) July 15, 2018
So the World Cup Final started with an own goal and a screamer, it was only fair VAR made its appearance soon...
Funny an Argentine referee has to review a handball decision!#HandofGod#WorldCupfinal#FRACRO#CROFRA#WorldCup
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 15, 2018
VAR got the penalty call right. Unfortunate that VAR couldn’t review the dive that led to France’s first goal.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) July 15, 2018
Let's go back to the VAR dweebs to see if it still has to be a deliberate handball for a penalty... #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/kPkI8DU1Fn
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 15, 2018
That's a penalty. I have spoken. #WorldCup
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) July 15, 2018
Noooooooo!!!! Can’t give that. Jeez VAR.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 15, 2018
The referee made that decision ... Don’t blame technology ... that is a human judgment which lets be honest is an complete & utter bonkers one ... #WorldCup
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 15, 2018
Is kahani me emotion hai....tragedy hai...drama hai #WorldCupFinal #Sholay
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) July 15, 2018
And when half-time came, it was time to catch our collective breath...
1930 - The only team to win a World Cup final having been trailing at half-time was Uruguay against Argentina, in the first ever showpiece in 1930. History.#WorldCupFinal #WorldCup #FRA #CRO pic.twitter.com/dfllwOSZFy
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2018
Half Time score:
— Bhuvan Bam (@Bhuvan_Bam) July 15, 2018
Croatia: 1
France: Referee + Croatia#WorldCupFinal
A team with one shot on goal has scored twice. The best striker of the other team puts it in his own net while another scores a goal, and then concedes a penalty. That kind of a #WorldCupFinal #FRACRO
— Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) July 15, 2018
In what has go to down one as one of the tweets of the night...
... walk into a VAR: https://t.co/q8gH7aqOV3
— Barça News and Negativity (@cynicule) July 15, 2018
When the second half began, there was an invasion of the pitch, which was later revealed to be a protest...
What nonsense. Is there anything the Russians won’t invade?
— Mostly Offline Send Email Instead (@sidin) July 15, 2018
You spend a fortune getting a ticket for the #WorldCupFinal and then invade the pitch and miss the rest of the game 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/tp1X9i2Dfe
— The F2 (@TheF2) July 15, 2018
This #WorldCupFinal has had everything so far:
— SB Nation (@SBNation) July 15, 2018
- Own goals
- People bleeding from the neck
- FANS ON THE FIELD pic.twitter.com/eSOjrDXa1L
No shortage of excitement in the #WorldCupFinal @AP reporting Pussy Riot responsible for four people storming the pitch. Croatia not giving up without a fight. 4-2 to France with more to come
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) July 15, 2018
As Croatia were doing all the running but France remained the lead, there was some criticism for Les Bleus...
Have to admire tiny France, here with no fans, somehow hanging on with just half a team of world class attacking players to call on
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) July 15, 2018
But that was soon set to change as Mbappe and Pogba decided to make the stage their own...
1 - Paul Pogba has become the first-ever @ManUtd player to score in a @FIFAWorldCup final. Devilish.#WorldCupFinal #WorldCup #FRA #CRO pic.twitter.com/MSdkcfmUQR
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2018
Super pogba finish. But what about mbappe’s bolt-like run to get to that ball! Furious pace
— Sidvee (@sidvee) July 15, 2018
Paul Pogba scores a pearler after the purest of passes to Mbappe.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 15, 2018
My French colleagues in the Wimbledon press room are REALLY thankful that Djokovic and Anderson are not playing a fourth set at the moment
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) July 15, 2018
Just like he does to a football pitch, Mbappe then set Twitter on fire...
19y 207d - Kylian Mbappé is the 2nd youngest player to score in a @FIFAWorldCup final, after Pelé (17y 249d) in 1958 for Brazil. Anointed.#WorldCupFinal #WorldCup #FRA #CRO pic.twitter.com/RAX9fOPWL0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2018
He may not get it, but I don’t think you could argue if Kylian Mbappe were to win the Golden Ball for best player of the tournament. Even suggesting that he could win it is extraordinary at his age.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 15, 2018
Mbappe becomes the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele in 1958. Superstar.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 15, 2018
Mbappe mmmagnificent......
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 15, 2018
Teenagers to score in a #WorldCupFinal
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018
* Pele
* Kylian Mbappe
That is all. pic.twitter.com/Cy3RvGOoV7
Lloris, the France captain, then decided to add some comedy to the night...
5 – Mario Mandzukic has become just the 5th player to score in both World Cup and European Cup/Champions League finals, after Ferenc Puskas, Zoltan Czibor, Gerd Muller & Zinedine Zidane. Platform.#WorldCupFinal #WorldCup #FRA #CRO pic.twitter.com/jc7TNR7YRG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2018
Lloris Karius
— JB™️ (@gunnerpunner) July 15, 2018
This final is drunk #WorldCup
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) July 15, 2018
Two constants in the Champions League and World Cup finals
— Aakriti (@Aakriti1) July 15, 2018
Lovren
Goalkeeping howlers
🧤 David De Gea & Loris Karius: “You won’t see a bigger mistake than ours in 2018”.
— SPORF (@Sporf) July 15, 2018
🇫🇷 Hugo Lloris: “Hold my beer”. pic.twitter.com/0mTrJCoKFP
OH NO IT TURNS OUT HE WAS A...
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) July 15, 2018
SLOW LLORIS https://t.co/PIwcbtknVi
But as the match started winding down...
As the #FIFAWorldCup went along, I changed the team I supported from #ARG to #ESP to #BRA to #BEL to #CRO.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) July 15, 2018
Sigh!
Well done France 🇫🇷, Croatia hold your heads up high. What a World Cup it was.
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) July 15, 2018
This #WorldCup is the best one I’ve ever seen! Not much competition to be honest, but plenty of goals & great games & to top it off an entertaining final!! #FRACROA #WorldCup2018
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 15, 2018
A #WorldCupFinal that the world will remember! #France lifting the Football World Cup after 20 yrs & #Croatia won hearts across with their brilliant game throughout the tournament & making to the finals for the1st time. A match historic by every measure! ⚽🏆👏 #FrancevsCroatia
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) July 15, 2018
This picture is going to haunt all of us in our sleep.#WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/wNKcVWA37t
— Dejzi🦋 (@FirdesaSvarqa) July 15, 2018
That is some celebration from @paulpogba #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/Syd6mo65EB
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 15, 2018
Saying goodbye to the #WorldCup like...#WorldCupfinal #FRACRO pic.twitter.com/kfWplFoTh7
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 15, 2018
Trying to work out what to do now that the World Cup is over... pic.twitter.com/fqsSrY4ES0
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) July 15, 2018
And finally, to sum it all up...
In a lot ways, the final was a perfect representation of this tournament. Excitement, drama and unpredictability overriding the often lack of quality.
— Somnath Sengupta (@baggiholic) July 15, 2018
This #WorldCupFinal has had tragedy, injustice and comedy. It’s not a match, it’s a novel.
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) July 15, 2018
And the World Cup did, technically, go home after all.
Il est revenu à la maison☺️#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/ZB1MQm44DZ
— French Team (@FrenchTeam) July 15, 2018
What a match, what a tournament. Russia 2018, you shall be missed!
(With AFP inputs)
