World Cup final LIVE: France vs Croatia teams; Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric start

France and Croatia turn back the clock 20 years when they run out at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium in today’s World Cup final.

On July 8, 1998, the two sides were pitched into battle, this time at the semi-final stage, at the Stade de France and it was the hosts who prevailed with a 2-1 victory which set up a final showdown with Brazil.

With a population of 4.2 million people as of 2016, Croatia is the smallest country to reach the title clash since Uruguay in 1950.

France are making their third World Cup final appearance, after winning the trophy on home soil in 1998 and losing to Italy in the 2006 showpiece.

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FRANCE vs CROATIA

France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Pogba, Kante, Matuidi, Griezmann, Giroud, Mbappe.

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

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Amrul: I think it’s been a decent World Cup at best. We waited for all the big teams to take off and it never quite happened… The big teams should get free entry (Netherlands and Italy inc.) and add the Japan, South Korean and African sides and it will produce better World Cup.

Tom: Dejan Lovren to complete the ultimate unwanted double. UCL and World Cup runners-up 2018.

Sree: It’s been an average World Cup. Especially with the usual suspects doing as badly as they could. No one except the English fans are going to remember this World Cup unless something special happens tonight.. may be Kylian Mbappe scoring four to snatch the Golden Boot.

LUKA…

14:50: Nice to see Luka Modric playing Pokemon Go on his phone ahead of a World Cup final. He catches a Pikachu inside the Luzhniki Stadium and I’ll hand him the trophy myself…

Anyway, the Croatia captain says determination and self-belief were always more important than physical stature in football.

Try telling that to Adebayo Akinfenwa.

At 5 feet 8 inches and 146 lbs, the playmaker can cut a diminutive figure on the pitch but he has few rivals when it comes to skill, game-management and stamina.

“I’ve always ignored such talk,” he told reporters. “I have never doubted myself even if others did, I always believed I could get to where I am today and thank God this came true.

“You don’t have to be a giant to play football, I’m happy with where I am. I am happy with where I am and I never cared what anyone else said, it only further motivated me.”

TEAM NEWS

14:45: World Cup finalists France and Croatia have both named unchanged sides as they prepared to do battle for the biggest prize in football at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps kept faith with Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, who has proved a strong link man for Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann but has yet to score in the tournament.

Mbappe, at 19 years and 207 days, also had the honour of becoming the third youngest finalist ever after Pele and Giuseppe Bergomi.

Croatia have been taken to extra-time in each of their three knockout fixtures but Zlatko Dalic resisted any temptation to freshen up his starting XI after edging England at the same ground in the semi-final.

KNACKERED?

14:40: Tired? Of course not says Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic.

Croatia needed extra-time and penalties to beat both Denmark and Russia, while Mario Mandzukic’s extra-time winner gave them victory over England in the semi-final.

By contrast, France advanced through the knockout stages with victories over Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium all in normal time.

“I’m not worried. I do not have any problems in that respect,” Dalic insisted.

I went to the gym on Wednesday and I’m still in recovery. There’s no chance he’s NOT concerned about fatigue, right?

VERY SUPERSTITIOUS…

14:35: Don’t worry, I’m not about to break into a Stevie Wonder song.

Just thought I would mention a little superstition that the French coaching staff have followed since their World Cup opener.

They’ve lined the balls up in an F shape before the players emerge from the tunnel for their warm-up.

FRANCE vs CROATIA

14:30: And the line-ups have arrived! No surprises from either nation as France and Croatia opt for the tried and tested method today.

France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Lucas, Mbappe-Lottin, Pogba, Kante, Matuidi, Griezmann, Giroud.

Subs: Mandanda, Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembele, Tolisso, Nzonzi, Rami, Fekir, Sidibe, Thauvin, Mendy, Areola.

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

Subs: Livakovic, Corluka, Kovacic, Kramaric, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, Badelj, Pjaca, Pivaric, Lovre Kalinic.

Referee: Nestor Pitana

HAVE YOUR SAY

14:25: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

WELCOME

14:20: Hello everyone, welcome to our LIVE coverage of the 2018 World Cup final.

161 goals tournament goals, 700,000 supporters making the pilgrimage to Russia and an extra 40 million pints served in British pubs during England fixtures.

It’s certainly been a wild and extremely hungover ride.

And at the end of this long journey, we have pre-tournament favourites France going head-to-head with perennial dark horses Croatia.

Forget the ‘David vs Goliath’ narrative going on at Wimbledon, we’ve got the real thing here in Moscow!