SUNDAY, JULY 15, 2018 19 key World Cup final battles rance are favourites to win the World Cup By contrast, ’s side have seen As the smallest country to reach a World Cup for a second time in Moscow on Sunday off Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium, all in 90 min- final for 68 years, Croatia cannot call on the same when they take on a Croatia side forced to go utes, and enjoyed a day’s extra rest to prepare after resources as the French but have shown incredible F Marcelo Brozovic 4through three periods of extra-time to make their their semi-final on Tuesday as they look to make mental strength to battle back from falling behind first ever final. amends for defeat in the Euro 2016 final to Portugal. in each of their three knockout games.

Luka Modric v Paul Mario Mandzukic v Raphael Varane Mandzukic often saves his best for the big occasion, most Marcelo Brozovic v Pogba recently shrugging off a knee injury to strike the winner Modric has been wide- against England in the semi-final. ly hailed as the world’s The Juventus forward also has a great record when Recalled by Zlatko Dalic for the semi-fi- best midfielder for his facing Varane. Mandzukic scored a stunning overhead nal, Inter Milan midfielder Brozovic performances in Rus- kick in the 2017 Champions League final, netted freed up Modric and Rakitic from sia and has emerged twice as the Italians beat Real Madrid 3-1 at the San- defensive duties at the base of the as a Ballon d’Or con- tiago Bernabeu in April and grabbed the winner for midfield and always provided an out tender after also winning Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Spanish Super Cup. ball for his centre-backs as Croatia his fourth Champions League in Mandzukic will be used as a focal point to try dominated possession. five years at Real Madrid. and bring Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Perisic Griezmann has not shone as That is a status Pogba aspires to, but the into the game, but Varane has arguably been brightly as at Euro 2016, when he one-time world’s most expensive player has the best centre-back at the World Cup won the Golden Boot. His three sacrificed some of his creative talents for the and has the speed, height and power goals have come from two penalties good of the team in Russia. to nullify Croatia’s biggest goal threat. and a goalkeeping mistake by Uruguay’s Manchester United’s Pogba has formed a Mario Mandzukic Fernando Muslera. formidable partnership with N’Golo Kante However, the Atletico at the heart of the French midfield that has Madrid star has im- helped snuff out the threat of , Kylian Mbappe v Dejan proved as the tourna- Kevin De Bruyne and . ment has progressed Should Pogba and Kante also prevent Lovren and has been Modric from taking control of the midfield Teenager Mbappe is already established as France’s main as he did despite tired legs in the second half one of the players of the tournament with his playmaker, pro- of Croatia’s semi-final against England, it raw pace causing huge problems for opposing viding the assists will take France a long way towards a first defences from the start of France’s campaign. for Varane’s and World Cup in 20 years. His two goals against Argentina in the round Samuel Umtiti’s goals of 16 illustrated that he has a sublime in the quarter-finals and touch to go with his blinding speed and semi-finals. although he has not found the net Griezmann’s energy and since, no defender is going to enjoy an intelligence will see him find evening trying to contain him. space to feed Giroud and Ky- Lovren and Domagoj Vida have lian Mbappe if Croatia’s ener- formed a rock-solid central defen- gy levels run low. It’ll be Bro- sive partnership for Croatia dur- zovic’s job to make ing the run to the final, encap- sure he does sulating the backs-to-the-wall not. attitude of their resilient side. They were exposed early in the semi-final by the pace of Ra- heem Sterling, however, and Kylian Mbappe in Mbappe they face a player Antoine Griezmann with a considerably bet- ter record of delivering Luka Modric the final product than the England for- ward.

Dejan Lovren

WORLD CUP PREDICT AND WIN Yesterday’s lucky winner is Dr Geetha. Winner will be contacted

DAY 32, 15th JULY 2018

FINAL

FRANCE CROATIA

Entry should be submitted before 2pm