The big final

France won 1-0 the qualitative team of Belgium and got the ticket for the tournament's final. It's time to reclaim the top, like they did 20 years ago in World Cup 1998. Two years ago they lost the title of the best team in Europe at home, from Fernando Santos' Portugal by 0-1 in extra time. Maybe it is time to get to the top again. They had a pretty good and stable performance during the tournament. Didier Deschamp is a very good coach who has excellent, experienced and qualitative players in his squad. Anyone could notice that the 'tricolores' are made for big achievements and their performance stand to this fact.  

Croats proved that they can make it through, either way Zlatko Dalic's team managed to overpass their opponents and get to the finals. After two qualifications in penalties against Denmark and Russia, they had to win England in extra time. They were losing 0-1 after Kieran Trippier's free kick.  Croats tried their best in the second half and so they tied when Ivan Perisic scored at 68' and after that, they had control of the game even with losing some decent chances to score another goal. That didn't come in regular time but in extra time instead when Mario Mandzukic scored at 109'. Extra time brings extra fatigue for the team. Basically it is like they played one game more in the tournament. The passion, the prestige and the dynamism of a final match defies any fatigue.

I expect to watch a spectacular final. Both French and Croats will do their best to be the World Cup 2018 Champions. France seem to be the favorite, but any tip for a final has a big risk. It's a final, a game and everything may happen. Both teams to score will be my choice.