Sunday 15th July 1600hrs France v Croatia Football – International – World Cup It’s probably not the World Cup final that many people would have called at the beginning of the tournament but it’s an intriguing one to say the least and both nations have been excellent at different stages of the tournament. The French were one of the favourites at the outset, albeit with some doubts about their staying power when it really mattered but their opponents are now in unchartered territory and looked to make history. It’s a rerun of the 1998 World Cup semi final but will there be a different outcome 20 years later?! Betting tips for France against Croatia and preview of the 2018 World Cup final are below.
The French have really gotten into their stride in the knockout stages of the World Cup and have been able to demonstrate so many different qualities in the three games since an uninspiring group stage. It was a display of real attacking force and threat when defeating Argentina 4-3 but that then started to raise doubts about how good they were defensively. They answered those questions in no uncertain terms by keeping clean sheets against Uruguay and Belgium to reach the final – two teams who have a huge amount of attacking threat of their own. Both those wins were gained courtesy of a controlled and disciplined performance with some massive individual contributions. Kylian Mbappe has been outstanding up top, one of the starts of the tournament. However he’s now being rivalled by Raphael Varane who has been a colossus in defence and can lay claim to be one of, if not the, best defender in the world considering his achievements at club level as well. Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante have been excellent in midfield also and they really do have all the ingredients required to become outright winners – however we also said that two years ago ahead of their participation in the final of their own European Championships.
Croatia were imperious in the group stages and got many people talking about having the potential of going all the way following a 3-0 demolition of Argentina. That expectation was slightly curtailed by a under par performance against Denmark in the second round where they required penalties, whilst a similar game awaited them in the quarter final against hosts Russia. When going behind early in their semi against England it was doubtful how much more Croatia had left to give – well we got an emphatic answer to that. Despite having to weather more of a storm in that first half, the Croats believed in their philosophy and approach to the game and it paid dividends. A storming last hour of the regulation 90 minutes and by far the stronger team in extra time seen them get their reward and make it through to a first ever World Cup final. Like France there has been a number of star performers for Croatia, not least their inspirational captain Luca Modric. He has been on a different level at times and is undoubtedly going to be in contention for being named player of the tournament. That will, of course, be largely determined by the outcome of the final itself but Modric will be caring only about winning the big prize.
France still hold painful memories from the loss to Portugal two years ago in what they felt would be another crowning glory on home soil. Their only World Cup triumph came when hosting the 1998 World Cup and they were big favourites to win their own Euros as well but came undone in the final. That pain will be etched on many of the squad but they have a chance to not only rectify it but claim the ultimate prize in football. Perhaps tellingly, all their big stars are on form at the moment which possibly was not the case in 2016 and they are not relying on just one or two to see them through. That could be the most telling difference come full time on Sunday.
They may not have the amount of world stars in their ranks compared to France, but Croatia have plenty of their squad competing with the top clubs in European football. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Inter Milan are all employers of players within this Croatian team and that experience was evident in being able to hold their nerve throughout this knockout stage. The mentality has been astonishing and if they are able to call upon it one more time then they will be in with a great chance of becoming World Champions for the first ever time, which would be some feat for a company consisting of only four million and was only declared independent in 1991.
France v Croatia Betting Tips
International football is usually a poor relation to the club game but this World Cup has been refreshing for a number of reasons and we hope now to have a final befitting of such a tournament. So often the two teams competing in the final become more cautious because of what’s at stake so we may have to prepare ourselves for the first part of the game being where they feel each other out but there is a feeling that the defensive parts of their game is a strength of both and could be a war of attrition as a result. We hope not and it turns into a free-flowing game of football but I’m inclined to lean towards a low scoring affair. Not since France winning the World Cup in 1998 has there been more than three or more goals scored in a final. The last two have finished goalless at 90 minutes and this could be a similarly tight affair – take under 1.5 goals.
Betting Tip Under 1.5 goals 31/21 @ Unibet
