Sports Desk:
France beat Croatia 4-2 to become World Champions for the second time at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday.
Earlier, the 19-year-old French phenom Kylian Mbappe scored in the 65th minute on a right-footed shot that bounced to the left of Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and in. He is the second teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele did it as a 17-year-old for Brazil in 1958. The French seized a 4-1 lead and have seemingly sewn up the title.
In the 59th minute, a ball ping-ponging in the box found the left foot of French superstar midfielder Paul Pogba. It was initially blocked, but then he followed up with a left-footer that beat Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic left.
Mario Mandzukic scored the first ever own goal in a World Cup final after France opened the scoring in Moscow against Croatia.
Antoine Griezmann was brought down about 30 yards from goal and dusted himself off to curl in the resulting free-kick, which skimmed off Mandzukic’s head and past the hands Danijel Subasic.
It was the latest in a World Cup that has been dominated by set-piece goals as Griezmann picked up yet another assist from a dead-ball situation.
The goal also means that this World Cup has seen more own goals than any other in history with France’s opener being the 12th put into his own net by a player in Russia.
Croatia were appearing in their first ever World Cup final, while France were in their second in 20 years, after winning it in France in 1998.