World Cup 2018 final: France v Croatia – live!

The BBC pundits have gone for their traditional World Cup final suits, which always seems a touch unnecessary to me.

Marcel Desailly is the perfect man to discuss Didier Deschamps. . .

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It’s a big day for Olivier Giroud who has been utilised as a non-scoring striker by Deschamps throughout the tournament but his hold up play and physicality has been essential in getting the best out of those around him, as Griezmann and Mbappe will testify. The scene seems set for him to score today, doesn’t it?

Former Croatia international Aljosa Asanovic has kindly penned this for us. . .

It would be a proud record to have.

The players are in the house!

Plenty has been happening in the World Cup, so you may have missed the weird and the wonderful, but do not fear. . .

Let’s not forget that before all the actual football, we will be treated to a closing ceremony, a display that no one wants to see. I assume this will be the moment that Putin final confirms his plan for world domination, as the military perform the Russian version of the haka, as Will Smith screams the national anthem at the confused attendees.

No surprises in those two lineups. Both teams at full strength, which is what we all want for a final. No one suspended, ruling out those needlessly cruel blows that many have suffered in the past.

Where will the game be won and lost? Jonathan Wilson thinks he has the answer. . .

For those of you who like your team in text form, here they are:

France: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Pogba, Kanté, Mbappé, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.

Croatia: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Strinic, Lovren, Vida, Rakitic, Modric, Brozovic, Perisic, Mandzukic, Rebic.

Dawah wonders what has happened to Croatia’s forgotten man: “Nikola Kalinic from Croatia was sent home from the WorldCup for refusing to come on as a substitute in their opening game against Nigeria. Wonder what he’s doing today?”

I do hope he would still get a winner’s medal.

Here are the starting lineups for the World Cup final!

Raphael Varane has been superb during this tournament, which means it is a cracking time to remind yourself of this:

The World Cup trophy has its own security and, to be honest, I am not going to mess with them. No need for Pickles in Moscow, I suspect.

Kari has emailed in about fulfilling dreams and going to space: “Kids all over the world dream of one day scoring in a World Cup final, and now a couple of dozen former kid dreamers have a chance to do so. From 1930 only 57 players have scored in a men’s world cup final, by comparison 536 people have gone into space. In the last quarter century, there have been only nine goals scored in World Cup finals, and a third of them by Zinedine Zidane. Whoever scores today will join a very exclusive club.”

What you really want is some top quality writing from people who certainly are not me.

What we have for your peepers is. . .

Ed Aarons on Thuram being a hero

Jorge Valdano discusses the final

Daniel Taylor previews the match

Barney Ronay on Modric

Thomas asks: “Any last minute tactical predictions? Will any manager spring some surprises on us?”

I predict zero surprises, it is not really the time for it.

As a scarf, it doesn’t really do it for me. . .

N’Golo Kante, the 12th and 13th man for France, has once again been superb throughout the tournament. His determination to cover ground and break up play has been a key influence on France and Paul Pogba, who does not get such luxuries when next to Marouane Fellaini in the Manchester United engine room. Kante will have his eyes on Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic, who have been devastating for Croatia but he will not be worried about that.

Who are you supporting, Vlad?

This is no time for looking back, as we are just two hours away for the biggest game in the last four years. I’ve taken a heavy intake of breath and I am almost fully prepared for what is about to come.

Lovren and Vida have had a great tournament, the former proclaiming that he is now one of the world’s finest exponents of the art of defending but they are really going to need to be at their best if they are to keep the triple threat of Giroud, Griezmann and Mbappe quiet. I can’t see it myself but they keep proving everyone wrong.

After a month of football, we are at the final. Thirty-two teams have become just two. Many expected France to be contenders but Croatia have done the surprising thing of being a dark horse who actually do the unexpected and reach the final.

It seems to have been built as a battle of Kylian Mbappé versus Luka Modric as they are the two standout performers left in the tournament, in my humble opinion. The pace, power, skill and finishing of a teenager against the cunning and passing of a 32-year-old facing perjury charges, it is what this game was meant to be.

Across the pitch Croatia have field a number of heroes who have battled their way to the final thanks to two penalty shootout victories and seeing off England in the semis and they will not be afraid to fight for another 90 – potentially 120 – minutes in order to secure the biggest prize of their careers and Croatia’s footballing history.

France have been here before, albeit 20 years ago, but it will count for something that their head coach, Didier Deschamps, was the man who lifted the trophy in Paris after defeating Brazil. He has shown that he is a canny operator in this tournament, despite coming into it with a number of detractors. He doesn’t just have Mbappé, but Antoine Griezmann, N’Golo Kante and Raphael Varane, to name but three, and they possess everything a team needs to come out on top on the biggest stage.

I will be bringing you all the buildup, predictions, team news and anything else that crops up before Barry Glendenning takes you through the live action.

Either way, it is going to be a great afternoon for one country!

Kick-off: 4pm BST