Didier Deschamps has played a blinder for Les Bleus

Many pundits remain underwhelmed by France but they are playing great tournament football and should be rewarded by winning a second World Cup with a narrow victory over Croatia in Moscow.

History is being rewritten as far as critics of Didier Deschamps are concerned. This idea that he is a totally conservative coach just isn't true - but he has figured out that major tournaments require a plan where the first mantra is don't lose.

The days of the Dutch teams dazzling in the seventies or Brazil in 1982 are basically gone due to the schedule and format. It could be different with the winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022 but at the end of a domestic season the one consistent way you can get a tired team to succeed is make them them organised and difficult to beat. Deschamps has done that.

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It's all about the collective and even a superstar like Kylian Mbappe has really only had two outstanding games - against Argentina and Belgium - but to maintain that level at this stage of the season is virtually impossible.

There is some sympathy in my mind for those who want France to be more expressive but for Deschamps this is basically a new team.

It's horses for courses plus one of the real leaders of the side, Antoine Griezmann, is used to defending from the front, it's what he does every week for Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann's best performances for France tend to come when Olivier Giroud is on the pitch so it should come as no surprise that Deschamps continues to stick by the Chelsea man. France don't have another Giroud and to label him as some kind of Stephane Guivarc'h is most unfair.

Giroud remains enormously influential and even when he broke through at Montpellier goals were never what he was all about.

There is so much more to his game and there was no coincidence that Griezmann's form picked up in 2018 at Atletico when Diego Costa started to feature. Like Giroud, Costa wins all the battles, using his muscle to make life easier for Griezmann.

But it is defensively where France should have control of this game and the way full-backs Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez have locked down those positions says much for the spirit within the camp as well as the strength in depth for Les Bleus.

Had Deschamps been forced to go with his first-choice full-backs from some time ago - Djibril Sidibe and Benjamin Mendy - they may not have gone this far as both have been struggling for fitness.

Instead, they have used players out of position. Pavard is clearly a centre-back and Hernandez will become one too, but Germany did the same four years ago with Benedikt Howedes. It's vital during a tournament that players can adapt to help the team.

Croatia surprised me with the way they found enough energy to overcome England but it was the same old story for the Three Lions, who faded around the 70-minute mark in Wednesday's semi-final. They had done the same against Colombia in the last 16.

France won't wilt and they are by far the strongest side physically that Croatia will have come up against during their amazing run.

Dejan Lovren has impressed alongside his excellent centre-back partner Domagoj Vida and Luka Modric, apart from a rubbish first half against England, has been key, while I have liked the variety in their attacking play during the tournament.

However, this will be Ivan Rakitic's 71st match of the season and opponents such as N'Golo Kante, one of those who ought to be in the running for the Golden Ball, should just prove too strong.

Recommendation
France to win by one goal
12-5 bet365

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