Mbappe could tear jaded Croatia defence to pieces

Dan Childs
Two years on from their surprise loss to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final, France carry the burden of favouritism in Moscow and they can show how much progress they have made.

Croatia fully deserve their place in the final after dominating their group and bossing the majority of their semi-final success over England, but going to extra-time for three successive knockout matches is likely to have taken a mental and physical toll on some of the players.

Croatia have better midfielers but the match could be won and lost in the key defensive and attacking thirds and France look stronger in both departments.

Les Bleus have played pragmatically in many of their matches but they are an effective side with quality in key areas. Raphael Varane is probably the best defender in the tournament, N’Golo Kante one of the best holding midfielders and Kylian Mbappe is undoubtedly the best young player on show.

France are not always the most attractive team to watch but they possess plenty of match winners and should win the game without the need for extra-time or penalties.

Ian Wilkerson
France have grown into the tournament and have demonstrated their ability in the later stages against the teams who have been more inclined to test them rather than concentrating on damage-limitation.

Croatia, on the other hand, have shown their battling qualities to get past Denmark and Russia on penalties but apart from 20 minutes against Argentina, they probably put in their best performance of the tournament in seeing off England in extra-time.

It is not easy to dismiss the fact that they have effectively played an extra game than France and there will be concerns that it will have taken its toll, but I can still see them holding their own and it may take France until extra-time to claim the big prize.

The big worry for Croatia is coping with the pace of Kylian Mbappe and he may just provide the moment of magic that proves decisive.

Backing the Paris St-Germain starlet to be crowned man of the match could prove to be the best bet, particularly if normal time proves cagey.

Liam Flin
France plodded through their group matches but have upped their performances significantly in the knockout phase, where their front three have started to click.

Croatia are yet to face a team with star quality in multiple departments and going into extra-time in three consecutive matches will surely have a negative effect on them in the final.

Didier Deschamps has got his tactics spot on throughout and can outwit Zlatko Dalic in a game that could be decided by fine margins.

Kylian Mbappe was scintillating against Belgium and, desperate to prove himself on the biggest stage, he looks a good bet to open the scoring.

World Cup final

Mark Langdon's match preview

Special bets

Philippe Auclair's view from France

Andy Brassell's verdict

Key battlegrounds

Aaron Ashley
France possess the greater threat going forward with teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann spearheading their attack, but Croatia are well-organised and remain difficult to beat.

Four of France’s five wins have been settled by one goal, while Croatia have needed extra-time or penalties to come through all three of their games in the knockout stages. Les Bleus were dragged to extra-time by Portugal in the final of Euro 2016 and a draw in 90 minutes could be the value bet.

France have needed headed goals from set-pieces to get them up and running in their last two matches and centre-backs Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti could profit big prices to open the scoring.

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James Milton
Croatia were expected to wilt late on against England but their game management and quality in midfield saw them take charge of the semi-final in the last 30 minutes of normal time and extra-time on their way to their 2-1 victory.

However, fatigue must be a major concern for the underdogs in the final and France demonstrated their physical prowess and high energy levels to shut out a talented Belgium attack in their semi-final win.

France’s defensive strength and threat on the counter-attack make them awkward opponents and the favourites should oblige in 90 minutes.

The prospect of teenage superstar Kylian Mbappe running at a tired Croatia defence late in the game means the 5-1 about the PSG speedster scoring the last goal looks an appealing bet.

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