World Cup Final Player Ratings: Pogba edges Mbappe as key man

FRANCE

Hugo Lloris (5/10) – Lloris can be an excellent shot stopper but the strike from Perisic was so well hit he had no chance. He pulled off a smart save from an early second half shot from Rebic. Raced out to take the ball from Perisic just outside his penalty area. Lloris is, however, always good for an error and his attempt to beat Mandzukic with skill – six yards out – was deservingly punished.

Benjamin Pavard (6/10) – Pavard has made the right-back position his own this half, and won an early header against Perisic at a corner. His weakness was highlighted when he was beaten by the same player moments earlier. Launched himself to block a Strinic strike as France started to sit back when they went 3-1 up.

Raphael Varane (6/10) – He fired in a pass far too hard at Mbappe early on when he was put under pressure, but it was his presence in the box for the first French goal that forced Mandzukic to act and put into his own net. Lost possession carelessly to Mandzukic to set Croatia up for a dangerous attack.

Samuel Umtiti (7/10) – Umtiti showed good awareness when he rushed back to cover for a Perisic cover, and looked to injure his knee just before half time when Lovren fell into him at a corner. Unflappable in the second half.

READ MORE: France beat Croatia in thrilling World Cup final to win second title

IN PICTURES: All the latest shots as France face Croatia

Theo Hernandez (7/10) – He was booked for a foul on Rebic to stop a Croatian counter attack, but he contributed little and needed to do little in the first half. A drive down the left as Croatia were caught up field allowed him to pick out Mbappe for their fourth.

Paul Pogba (8/10) – In the first half, Pogba did well to cover a Strinic run, and was prevented from launching a counterattack by a Rebic foul. He almost released Mbappe down the right wing in one nice piece of attacking play, but then was later robbed by Brozovic as he dithered high up the pitch. He showed his defensive importance when he blocked a Lovren volley in the box that looked like it was going in. But things changed after the interval, and dramatically so. In the second half a fine pass led to the move that he finished with a calm left-footed shot to seal victory. It was possibly the best half of the whole competition, and he appears to have finally grown into his promise to become the best central midfielder in the world – with Rakitic and Modric in his shadow.

N’Golo Kanté (5/10) – Along with the rest of the French side, he was pressed into mistakes early on, and had to earn the first yellow card of the game to break up Croatia’s rhythm. Gave the ball away under pressure more than he does for Chelsea. Replaced by N’Zonzi perhaps because he was struggling with the pace of the game while already on a yellow.

Kylian Mbappé (8/10) – He found himself pushed well back down the right wing by Croatian attacking through Perisic and Strinic, and was almost in on goal but for a vital Vida tackle. An early second half burst down the right almost saw him beat Subasic. His pace allowed him to race onto a Pogba pass that ultimately led to Pogba’s goal. His goal, France’s fourth, was just as sweetly struck as Perisic’s and left Subasic on his knees.

Antoine Griezmann (7/10) – Griezmann did almost nothing from open play in the first half, but managed to deliver the cross for the first goal, the corner for Matuidi to win a penalty, and then converted the spot-kick without ever breaking a sweat.

Blaise Matuidi (6/10) – He did little in the first half except win a penalty. He was withdrawn for Tolisso, and while he didn’t do much, he didn’t do much wrong.

Olivier Giroud (6/10) – Giroud received the ball high up the pitch a couple of times, but in the first half was most important for his ability to defend set pieces. He was subbed with less than 10 minutes of normal time to play, and while he didn’t offer any goals this tournament, he kept his side together

SUBSTITUTES

Stephen N’Zonzi (6/10) – Replaced Kante early on in the second half and was a much calmer presence as France reasserted their superiority.

Corentin Tolisso (6/10) – He came on to add more energy as the game drew to a close, but only his defensive talents were needed with the game one.

Nabil Fekir (6/10) – Replacing Giroud, he added more defensive nous.

CROATIA

Danijel Subasic (6/10) – By hanging around the penalty box off his line for an age, he tried to put of Griezmann before the penalty. It didn’t work. He was on hand to save well from an early second half chance from Mbappe.

Sime Vrsaljko (5/10) – He headed Modric’s cross back into the box to allow Perisic to score Croatia’s equaliser, but he did nothing else. Up against France’s pace he eventually began to struggle. Booked for a wild lunge on Griezmann when the game was already lost.

Ivan Strinic (6/10) – Strinic offered plenty of attacking intent high up on the left wing, and put in an early tackle on Mbappe in France’s half as part of the early pressure. As he tired, France neutered his threat.

Dejan Lovren (5/10) – Lovren was lucky to be given a foul when he wasted time on the ball before being tackled by Giroud, and also had a volley blocked by Pogba just before half time.

Domagoj Vida (7/10) – Vida headed over from a Modric set piece and glanced a late first half header just wide when the goal was in front of him. He put in a vital tackle on Mbappe when the last man to keep the teenager at bay. He seemed to always be on hand when Croatia were stretched.

Ivan Rakitic (5/10) – Rakitic offered plenty of dangerous crosses from left-hand side corner, and put in two clever passes for Strinic and then Perisic to attack in the early stages of the first half. A creative player, he was ultimately forced into defensive duties by a brighter and more controlled France side.

Luka Modric (6/10) – Modric was part of the high press from Croatia and fouled Umtiti just two minutes into the game, and then a minute later did the same on Hernandez. He delivered the free kick from a pre-planned move that led to Perisic’s goal.

Marcelo Brozovic (6/10) – He gave away the free kick on Griezmann in dangerous position from which Varane scored, but offered little in the first half. In the second half he was on hand to turn away the ball for a corner when Griezmann was lurking.

Ivan Perisic (8/10) – Perisic was an early tireless runner, and played centrally to attack as well as exploiting space down the left wing. He tracked back to help deal with Mbappe, and tripped Kante in the middle of the pitch to break up place. He was unlucky to concede a penalty for his handball, but it was a suspect movement that was a risk, at best. Perisic kept Pavard on his toes throughout the second half.

Mario Mandzukic (6/10) – He failed to react to a loose ball in the box after Rebic air kick, and failed to put off Griezmann with his antics. His commitment even at 4-1 meant he forced a Lloris error and gave Croatia hope.

Ante Rebic (5/10) – He fouled Pogba early on as part of Croatia’s plan to disrupt their opponents, but then put in an air kick on Perisic cross immediately after France’s penalty to waste a chance of an equaliser. Early in the second half he forced Lloris into an excellent save with a rising shot at the near top corner.

SUBSTITUTES

Andrej Kramaric (6/10) – Came on for Rebic with 20 minutes of normal time as Croatia chased the game.

Marko Pjaca (6/10) – On for Croatia as they grew desperate, but couldn’t change the game.