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Vive La France: Les Bleus capture classic World Cup final with 4-2 victory against Croatia

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy after France won 4-2 during the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Moscow • The World Cup final is typically a tightly wound, low-scoring affair and, since the turn of the young century, teams have been separated by narrow margins or dreaded penalty kicks.

This summer’s four-week spectacle in Russia, however, defied convention from the start, and so it was fitting that on the last day of a glorious tournament, France won the championship Sunday in a wild affair with Croatia, 4-2, for its second title in 20 years.

Vive La France. Vive Les Bleus.

Ending a string of three consecutive finals decided after regulation, France scored three straight goals in a 27-minute stretch bridging halftime.

The six goals were as many as the previous four finals combined. They were the most in a final since England beat Germany, 4-2, in extra time in 1966 and the most in regulation since Brazil's 5-2 triumph over Sweden in 1958.

Didier Deschamps became the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach, joining Brazil's Mario Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer.

Croatia, a country of some 4.4 million, was attempting to become the smallest nation since Uruguay in 1950 to raise the trophy.

An own goal, a penalty kick and strikes by Paul Pogba and 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe elevated the French in an open and entertaining match before a global TV audience estimated at more than 1 billion and a sellout crowd of 78,011.

A day before the summit with President Donald Trump in Helsinki, Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined on the VIP level by, among others, French President Emmanuel Macron and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

The final brings out not just those supporting the participating teams, but fans of teams that were eliminated long ago. It’s the culmination of the planet’s most popular sporting event, but also a four-week party that spread to 10 other cities before reconvening in the capital.

Croatia set the terms. France did not seem to mind but needed to absorb mounting pressure for 15 minutes. The Croatians were not precise enough in the final third of the attack to test goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the French captain.

Perhaps the French figured the Croatians would burn themselves out after playing three consecutive extra-time matches (an additional 90 minutes) over two weeks of knockout games. Croatia, though, has proven resilient in the face of fatigue, as England learned after taking an early lead in the semifinals and surrendering in extra time.

Croatia’s early fun and promise came to an end in the 18th minute on a French set piece. Antoine Griezmann launched the 30-yard free kick toward the edge of the six-yard box, a perilous spot to defend with so many surging bodies angling to make contact. French heads rose, but the one to connect was Mario Mandzukic’s. It skipped off his scalp and floated past goalkeeper Danijel Subasic to the far side for an own goal.

Croatia answered 10 minutes later and, like France, started it with a free kick. Luka Modric's service was not a direct threat, but after three headers and Domagoj Vida's alert back pass, Ivan Perisic steered the ball from Ngolo Kante and ripped a left-footed shot from 17 yards that nicked a defender and splashed into the far side for his third goal of the tournament.

Another 10 minutes passed before France's go-ahead goal, a penalty kick by Griezmann that was awarded with an assist from video replay.

On Griezmann's corner kick, Blaise Matuidi won a header against Perisic at the near post. The ball then struck Perisic's left hand. Argentine referee Nestor Pitana did not witness the infraction, but after being notified by the video assistant referee, he consulted the sideline monitor and pointed to the spot.

Griezmann's fourth goal in seven appearances provided the most first-half goals in a final since 1974 between West Germany and the Netherlands.

Croatia buzzed with menace after intermission. Lloris made a sensational leaping save on Ante Rebic's searing bid, then exited the penalty area and used his chest to control a dangerous ball an instant before Perisic arrived.

At the other end, Mbappe turned the corner with the agility and acceleration of a sports car and tested Subasic from an acute angle.

Mbappe was it again in the 59th minute, using his speed and balance to infiltrate the right side of the box. He crossed to Griezmann, who tapped back to Paul Pogba. The first bid was blocked, but when the second returned to him, the Manchester United midfielder smashed a left-footed shot from 19 yards.

Subasic had been leaning one way; the ball went the other. In disappointment, he fell on his back, well aware the match was slipping away.

Mbappe got into the scoring act six minutes later, gathering Lucas Hernandez's pass and ripping a 25-yard shot into the low left corner for his fourth goal of the competition.

Mandzukic got one back in the 69th minute, pressuring the sloppy Lloris on a routine back pass. He not only blocked the outlet attempt, but directed it into the net.

Croatia had a faint lifeline, but time melted away on its upset hopes and left France atop the soccer world again.