More than 4 years have passed since the selection of France was world champion in Russia 2018, defeating in the grand final Croatia by a 4-2 win.
At that time, the French shared Group C with their peers from Australia, Denmark Y Perutaking first place with 7 points, winning 2 and drawing against Denmark without goals.
In the first meeting, France debuted against Australia, being the wide favourite. However, the Australians led at that time by Bert Van Marwijk, gave the Europeans a fight and in the first half they left without annotations.
Already for the complementary part, at 58′ a penalty was scored in favor of Francethe same that Antoine Griezmann executed from the eleven steps and in a sublime manner, thus opening the scoring on the Kazan Arena pitch.
Although the pleasure did not last long, since only two minutes later, the whistler scored a penalty in favor of Australia, after a clear handball inside the area by Samuel Umtiti. The midfielder and captain, Mile Jedinak, placed the ball on the penalty spot to fool Lloris, throwing the ball to his left and leaving him without a chance.
When it seemed that they were dividing points, at 81′ the Australian defender Aziz Behich had the misfortune to score the goal on his own goal when trying to clear and after a rebound, the ball hit the crossbar to bounce inside the goal. That was how the whistler ended with a score of 2-1.
In the second commitment they measured forces before Peru on the court of the Arena Ekaterinburg. In an even, round-trip match, at minute 34′ the young French star, Kylian Mbappé, appeared, who found himself with a loose ball inside the area after a deflection, only to push the ball and give his team the victory.
On June 26, the last group stage match was played against Denmark. The Danes did not shrink and stood up to the French. Despite the fact that the blue and whites were superior on the pitch, those led by Age Hereide put the bolt to a valuable goalless draw. In this way France agreed to the round of 16 as group leader with 7 points,
round of 16
In the round of 16 France faces were seen before Argentina, in one of the most anticipated games of this phase. This was a real game not suitable for the faint of heart.
At minute 13′, Antoine Griezmann put France up from a penalty, and before the end of the first half, at 41′, Ángel Di María gave the albiceleste a momentary equalizer.
Already for the complementary part, Argentina did the somersault with a goal from Gabriel Mercado, although nobody expected that in ten minutes France would resurface to settle the game with goals from Benjamin Pavard (57′) and a brace from Kylian Mbappé (64′ and 68′). , to put the 4-2.
Argentina, no matter how hard they tried, could not face the defensive walls and midfield of France, although, in the end, Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero gave them the goal at minute 93′ so that it would not be a scandalous result, making it 4-2. defining. France remained firm and now they would face Uruguay in the quarterfinals.
Quarter finals
The Nizhny Novgorod Stadium witnessed one of the most anticipated quarterfinal matches. Of France Come in Uruguay the first semifinalist would come out. In a game where Garra Charrúa dominated, it was shown that you can play well, but if you don’t score goals, it’s useless. The Frenchmen won 2-0 with goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann.
Semifinal
The road would not be easy, since in the semifinals France faced nothing more and nothing less than Belgiuma young team full of figures and that was surprising when it reached that stage after beating the widely favored Brazil 2-1 in the quarterfinals, being the ‘dark horse’ of the competition.
In this game France had more shots on goal, although possession favored the Belgians. In the first half they didn’t hurt each other and the two goalkeepers, Hugo Lloris and Tahibaut Courtois stole the spotlight with good saves. It was in the complement when the defender Samuel Umtiti won the mark in the corner kick from Fellaini, to put an accurate header putting the goal that gave them the pass to the grand final.
The grand finale of the championship
In the defining match they collided nothing more and nothing less than before Croatia. Those led by coach Didier Deschamps began winning with an own goal by Mandzukic at 18′. Ten minutes later, Ivan Perisic tied the score with a great volley goal, although the pleasure did not last long, since at 38′ the whistler checked the VAR for a handball inside the area, scoring a penalty for the French, which he was in charge of execute the specialist Antoine Griezmann putting the 2-1.
Already for the second half, Paul Pogba did a work of art by hitting the ball with an internal part, beating Courtois and making it 3-1. At 65′ no one could appear other than Mbappé, who took a mid-distance shot sealing the win, which was cut short three minutes later, when Lloris made a mistake when trying to play out, a situation that Mario Mandzukic took advantage of to put the 4 -2 final and get the world championship.
Goalie: Hugo Lloris (S)
Defenses: Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernández
Media: Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi
Forward: Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé.
This was the starting lineup with which France he won his second World Cup in history. They had to spend 20 years to once again taste the honey of victory, being the first in 98 against the powerful Brazil. Now, the Frenchmen are in the quarterfinals after leaving Poland 3-1 on the road in the round of 16, and they will face England in one of the most anticipated games of this instance.
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