**** 2018 WORLD CUP THREAD ***

Croatia will play how they usually play : look to control the midfield through Modric, and put as many balls into the box for Mandzukic to poach. Also, Croatia is a second half team, and will just lean on you as the game goes on. They have great endurance, and they know how to play from behind. I believe they have played three straight matches that went into extra time. The team is battle tested.

I don’t know what tactic France will use. Will they be on the front foot, and be an attacking team, or will they play defensively, looking to capitalize off Croatia’s mistakes? We shall see.

Modric has a very tough task on his hand, because he will be marked by Kante, and Varane will be marking Mandzukic. The team that wins those battles will go on to win the game.

I don’t care who wins. All of my teams are out, but Modric winning would give him a huge chance at winning the ballon dor. He won the Champions league, and adding a World Cup victory would definitely put him up there.

I think France will want to rack up goals early because Croatia does not seem like the type of team that can come back from 2-3 goals down and France can then switch to playing defensively with a comfortable lead, which they have done better than other team in this World Cup. On the other hand, that strategy could leave France open on the counter attack and that is where they looked weakest throughout the tournament.

Croatia will win if their midfield controls the game. The midfield battle is the most interesting part of this game for me. Modric, Rakitic, Perisic, Brozovic, Rebic vs. Kante, Pogba, Griezmann, Mbappe, Matuidi (apologize for lack of diacritic marks). France has better players on defense, but I think Croatia's defense works brilliantly as a unit. Hugo Lloris can be a game changer, while Subasic is a step down in quality. Lastly, I will take Mandzukic over Giroud 8 days a week.

TV is doing a shot of the players in the tunnel right now. Croatia looks ready to play. France looks nervous. Early advantage: Croatia.

Highly disappointed that I didn't get to here Derek Rae and Aly Wagner for at least one of the final 4 games.

Enjoy your first World Cup final.

Croatia is controlling this game early, possessing, killing it on the left side, and closing hard on defense. France looks timid. But I wonder if Croatia will wear themselves out with this pace.

That was not a foul. Fortune doesn't seem to smile upon Croatia.

So we have Var yet france gets a goal because a guy dives outside of box? That needs to be added to things reviewable. Any free kick that can result in a goal.

wejo wrote:

So we have Var yet france gets a goal because a guy dives outside of box? That needs to be added to things reviewable. Any free kick that can result in a goal.

Var is a joke.

1-1 Croatia! We got a game here, baby! Perisic is such a baller!

vivalarepublica wrote:

1-1 Croatia! We got a game here, baby! Perisic is such a baller!

I know it sounds contradictory - I bet $100 on France, but I hope Croatia gets it. And I screamed when they've got back into the game!

F-ing VAR. That was a nonsense penalty. Clearly not an intentional handball. Are guys supposed to tape their arms to their sides?

That VAR penalty just killed the mood.

You can complain about VAR, but that was absolutely a handball that needed to be called.

vivalarepublica wrote:

F-ing VAR. That was a nonsense penalty. Clearly not an intentional handball. Are guys supposed to tape their arms to their sides?

That was such an obvious handball. Penalty needed to be called.

Looksly wrote:

You can complain about VAR, but that was absolutely a handball that needed to be called.

Meh, it looked like it was a natural hand position to me, but he could have jumped without his arms so high in the air in the first place.

My problem with this match right now is that France has two goals resulting from questionable referee decisions: a goal off the free kick given for a Griezemann dive and a controversial VAR decision on a handball.

Croatia is dominating this game, from top to bottom. Shots on goal, possession, etc. They are possible the best team in this WC, and they scored their goal from open play. They are getting up the flanks and controlling the midfield.

A French player dove to get a free kick, and the goal was an own goal. The hand ball was questionable. Yes the hand was away from the body, but it wasn’t intentional , so I agree with Guus Hiddink. No handball because it wasn’t intentional.

France May go on to win, but very overrated in my book. Uruguay was forced to play without Cavani, scored a goal off of set piece against Belgium with Belgium being unlucky on shots, and get calls that go their way to go up on Croatia, while Croatia has dominated them.

That dive by Greizmann was disgusting and just more unsportsmanship by them.

vivalarepublica wrote:

Final match day, people! I was thinking of going to a soccer bar to watch the game, but I am sure it will be packed and drinking before noon sounds like a terrible idea.

Welcome to the whole NFL season in the Pacific time zone...

First time in life I have ever seen Kante subbed off! He has never subbed off at Chelsea, and his first sub off in the WC. Wow. That dude is the anchor of their defense.

Croatia midfield really had their way, and once he picked up a yellow that made it even tougher.