Croatia vs France: 5 areas where Croatia lost the World Cup Final to France

#1 Paul Pogba

2018 FIFA World Cup Final: France 4 - 2 Croatia

They say big players choose big arenas to rise to the occasion. Pogba certainly rose to the occasion, partly because Croatia did not attend to him properly.

But Pogba was not just an attacking force in the Luzhniki Stadium, he was everywhere. He was regularly in the box when France needed him and was composed enough to find his colleagues on the other side of the pitch.

And how brilliantly he found them. Again and again, under waves of Croatian attacks, Pogba regularly found Mbappe and Giroud with exquisite long balls, fighting fire with fire and piling the pressure on the high defense of Croatia.

He regularly joined in on the attack and he was so composed on the ball that Deschamps decided that he could risk taking the phenomenal Kante off and putting on Nzonzi. Kante got away with a rare off game, thanks to Pogba having his back.

In one of those marauding runs into the Croatian half, Pogba found an opportunity for a strike on goal with his right foot. It was blocked, but Pogba was alert, significantly, more aware that the Croatian players and before anyone else could react, he had hit it with his left beyond the reach of Subasic.

It showed composure from the player that would have Jose Mourinho, his manager at Manchester United, rub his hands in glee, and indeed, excite United fans as well. But he did not rest after scoring the goal.

One of his long balls found Mbappe in space and the teenager put the game beyond Croatia. It broke Croatian hearts, but it was nothing less than France and especially the efficient Paul Pogba, deserved.

---

What did you think about France's performance in the final? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!