Russia 2018: France's Second Title — and the Most Entertaining Final in Decades
Germany crashed out in the group stage. Croatia came from nowhere to reach the final. And a 4-2 thriller in Moscow gave France their second world title — with Didier Deschamps joining the most exclusive club in football.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup was held in Russia from 14 June to 15 July, and delivered one of the most dramatic and unpredictable tournaments in recent memory — from the defending champions' humiliating early exit to a final that produced the highest-scoring showpiece in decades.
The group stage set the tone immediately. Germany, the reigning world champions, lost two of their three matches — to Mexico and South Korea — and were eliminated before the knockout rounds had even begun. The shock reverberated around the football world. Russia, meanwhile, delighted the home crowd by beating Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening match and going on to defeat Spain on penalties in the round of 16, their best World Cup performance since the fall of the USSR.
Croatia were the tournament's great story. Three wins from three in the group stage — over Nigeria, Argentina and Iceland — announced their credentials, and they only grew stronger as the knockout rounds progressed, eliminating Denmark, Russia and England on their way to a first-ever World Cup final. Their captain and conductor, Luka Modrić, was named the tournament's best player and went on to win the Ballon d'Or at the end of the year.
France's path to the final included what many consider the match of the tournament — a breathtaking 4-3 victory over Argentina in the round of 16, with goals from Griezmann, a stunning Benjamin Pavard volley and two from a 19-year-old Kylian Mbappé announcing the teenager as the sport's next great force. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo went out the same day, beaten by Uruguay. In the quarter-finals, Belgium ended Brazil's campaign 2-1 for the fourth consecutive World Cup without the Seleção in the top four, before France edged past Belgium 1-0 in the semi-finals. Croatia beat England 2-1 in the other semi, coming from behind after Kieran Trippier's early free-kick to win in extra time through Mario Mandžukić.
The final in Moscow was the most entertaining since 1966. Mandžukić opened the scoring with an own goal — the first in a World Cup final in history — before Ivan Perišić equalised. Antoine Griezmann restored France's lead from a debated penalty just before half-time, awarded after a lengthy VAR review. Paul Pogba and Mbappé made it 4-1, before Mandžukić pulled one back to give Croatia brief hope. France held firm. Deschamps lifted the trophy as coach, becoming only the third man after Mário Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer to win the World Cup as both player and manager.
Top scorer: Harry Kane (England) — 6 goals
Champions squad: Lloris, Pavard, Kimpembe, Varane, Umtiti, Pogba, Griezmann, Lemar, Giroud, Mbappé, Dembélé, Tolisso, Kanté, Matuidi, Nzonzi, Mandanda, Rami, Fekir, Sidibé, Thauvin, Hernández, Mendy, Areola
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Highest-scoring matches: Belgium v Tunisia 5-2, England v Panama 6-1, France v Argentina 4-3
Total goals scored: 169 | Average per match: 2.64
Best-attended match: 78,011 — France v Croatia (final) | Average attendance: 47,371