France v Croatia Predictions & Betting Odds – World Cup 2018

Les Bleus to land title in Moscow

France v Croatia- World Cup 2018

France v Croatia Betting Preview – World Cup 2018 15th July – 4.00 p.m

The showcase match of the 2018 World Cup will be contested on Sunday, a showdown of France v Croatia for the title of World Champions. France are looking for their second World Cup title while the Croatians will be hoping to make the most of this first ever trip to a World Cup Final. Their respective routes through the knockout phase were vastly different with Croatia having done things the hard way. Will they be able to rouse themselves for one last effort as they take on Les Bleus who are favourites to win the World Cup Final 2018?

Table of Contents

France News and Form

You can’t really find any fault with the form of France even though their performances haven’t always been spectacular. In their last seventeen games played they have lost just once (W12 D4) and they are currently running on a ten-match undefeated streak. Looking at things realistically, they had a much tougher knockout stage campaign in front of them than Croatia did, but of the two, France were actually the more comfortable. So that says a lot about them. France opened the knockout stage with a 4-3 win over Argentina and then totally shut out Uruguay and Belgium in the subsequent rounds of action. While they flourished against a poor Argentina defence Les Bleus had to be patient in cracking open Uruguay’s tight back line. But then the fact that totally shut out the free-scoring Belgium in the semi finals was perhaps their stand out performance of the knockout phase. France have taken four clean sheets in their last five games played now and France to win to nil in Sunday’s Final is at 13/8 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July 2018 at 6:12 p.m.).

France v Croatia World Cup Final 2018 Infographic

While they looked clinical getting forward against Argentina, albeit not bossing possession in that game, France were more pragmatic against Uruguay and Belgium. To be fair we haven’t seen a great deal of attacking flair from the French apart from the odd spell here and there. But the substance they have had and control in midfield has been good and that was evident in blanking Belgium in that semi final match up, especially with Belgian having torn apart Brazil in their previous game. Antoine Griezmann is the 4/1 first goalscorer favourite at bet365* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July 2018 at 6:12 p.m.). The French have scored in 14 of their last 15 games and will be expected to find a way through Croatia. They have just produced strong tournament football to get the jobs completed that have been put in front of them. They haven’t had to go through a trial of extra time like Croatia have done and with a day’s extra rest will be the fresher of the two.

Visit Bet365

Croatia News and Form

Croatia have needed extra time in all three of their knockout stage matches at the 2018 World Cup and all that up and that’s the equivalent of them having played an extra knockout stage game. They carded penalty shootout wins over Denmark and then Russia before going up against England in the semi-finals. That was Croatia’s second semi-final appearance and this time they made no mistake, despite having to come from behind as they had to do against Denmark and Russia, to get their rewards. Mario Mandzukic settled the tie in the second period of extra time. Again, they had to come from behind in each of those matches as well, all three of which ended 1-1 at 90 minutes. In the bet365 correct score market, the shortest priced option is a France 1-0 at 9/2 while the 1-1 draw is at 6/1 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July 2018 at 6:12 p.m.). Croatia are having a golden generation show at the moment and while they have really been pushed to their physical and mental limits, they have not been broken and indeed produced more stamina than expected against England.

After looking so tired in extra time against Russia in the previous round, the general thought was that they wouldn’t have the steam in the tank to outlast England in the semi-finals. It wasn’t true as Croatia grew in stature and strength in the second half of that contest. They showed tremendous strength and sprinting to keep on going and with Luka Modric again the star of the show for them he looks a very strong Golden Ball candidate. Croatia are unbeaten in seven games now (W4 D3) which includes extra time and they have scored in each of their last seven games, netting at least two in six of those seven games. So they haven’t been shy in front of goal but in context of the overall quality they have faced in the knockout stage, France are head and shoulders, the best team that they have faced. France are so well organised at the back under 1.5 goals is at 11/8 odds* (Betting Odds were taken from 12th July 2018 at 6:12 p.m.).

France v Croatia Head to Head

France and Croatia have met five times before with France holding a W3 D2 record against the Croats. Actually, their first ever coming together was at the 1998 World Cup, a game with France won on their way to lifting the title. Their most recent meeting was a 2011 friendly which ended in a draw and the last two meetings have been tied.

France v Croatia Betting Odds*

France 19/20
Draw 23/10
Croatia 15/4
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on 12th July 2018 at 6:12 p.m.)

France v Croatia Predictions

We have to side with the French in this one and are going to do so with a France to win by a one-goal margin. They have been so strong at the back and should be able to handle themselves against the Croatians who surely have to run out of steam at some point. France have the better of the two benches and can land the title.