World Cup 2018 culminated with a fitting final. France’s 4-2 victory over Croatia featured an own goal, a set-piece goal, a penalty awarded via VAR and a couple of long-range strikes. Look beyond the six goals, and this final didn’t produce a single clear-cut chance, in keeping with the minimal number of open play chance creation throughout this tournament.

Somewhere, behind the madness, there was a tactical battle taking place. Both managers named their expected starting XIs, unchanged from the semi-finals. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic continued with his 4-3-3, with Marcelo Brozovic deep, Ivan Rakitic finding space away from Paul Pogba, and Golden Ball winner Luka Modric playing in a more advanced position, typically positioning himself in the precise zone equidistant between his two closest opponents. His footballing intelligence was a large reason for Croatia’s first half dominance.

Another key factor was Croatia’s pressing. For a concept that has become almost mandatory amongst top-level club sides over the past couple of seasons, effective pressing has been almost non-existent at this tournament, for good reason: it’s physically draining and difficult to achieve cohesively without serious hours on the training ground, which international managers simply aren’t afforded.

World Cup final: France vs Croatia Show all 95 1 /95 World Cup final: France vs Croatia World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy after France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia The France team line up in front of the World Cup trophy EPA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic greets President of France Emmanuel Macron alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia's line up ahead of the match AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba is challenged by Mario Mandzukic and Ante Rebic Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris looks on as Olivier Giroud heads a ball AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe controls the ball AFP/Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Luka Modric is challenged by N'Golo Kante REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Diego Maradona shouts AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic controls the ball in the penalty box PA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Raphael Varane, Mario Mandzukic and Benjamin Pavard collide as they compete for a header Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Samuel Umtiti falls in front of Mario Mandzukic AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann takes a free-kick which assisted the opening goal AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic scores an own goal AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic scores an own goal from Antoine Griezmann's free-kick Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Danijel Subasic looks on as he concedes the opening goal Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Benjamin Pavard and Raphael Varane EPA World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate socring the first goal of the game AFP/Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Luka Modric looks on REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Raphael Varane, Mario Mandzukicand Benjamin Pavard go for a header EPA World Cup final: France vs Croatia TOPSHOT - Two fans pose before the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images FRANCK FIFE AFP/Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Marcelo Brozovic vies for the ball with Olivier Giroud AFP/Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic scores Croatia's first goal PA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Soccer Football - World Cup - Final - France v Croatia - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia - July 15, 2018 Croatia's Ivan Perisic scores their first goal REUTERS/Christian Hartmann CHRISTIAN HARTMANN REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic celebrates after scoring AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia celebrate after scoring AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic handles the ball in the area leading to a VAR review REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 15: Ivan Perisic of Croatia handles the ball inside the penalty area, leading to a VAR review, and then a France penalty during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) Matthias Hangst Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana gestures players away before referral to VAR REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana checks the VAR AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia The scoreboard showing a possible penalty review by VAR REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana calls for a penalty after a VAR review REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic argue with Referee Nestor Pitana after he awards France with a penalty Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Players of Croatia react while Antoine Griezmann (L) of France prepares himself to take the a penalty EPA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann takes the penalty Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann scores France's second past Danijel Subasic Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 15: Antoine Griezmann of France celebrates with teammates after scoring a penalty for his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. 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Almost every side in this tournament has dropped deep without possession, yet here Croatia pressured France high up. This wasn’t the frantic pressing you associate with Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, for example, but Modric and Rakitic pushed forward to support Mario Mandzukic, out wide Ante Rebic and Ivan Perisic demonstrated tremendous energy, and the defence kept a high defensive line despite the threat of France’s speed.

How France conquered Croatia's tactical pressing (www.sharemytactics.com)

The consequence was a succession of France errors. Benjamin Pavard was caught in possession after a Kylian Mbappe throw, Raphael Varane uncharacteristically conceded possession under pressure, Samuel Umtiti was slightly fortunate to win a free-kick on the edge of his own box when attempting to dribble past Modric, with Mandzukic lingering nearby, and N’Golo Kante endured a terrible game, constantly caught out by the type of energetic pressing he’s come to define. Didier Deschamps sacrificed him only ten minutes into the second half.

In possession, Croatia were admirably bold, with both full-backs, Sime Vrsaljko and Ivan Strinic, pushing forward regularly. The runs of Vrsaljko, Croatia’s main threat against both Russia and England, meant Blaise Matuidi needed to mark him, drawing wider than he’s played in previous games, which made Modric the responsibility of the beleaguered Kante. On the other flank, Strinic’s aggressive positioning was more surprising, considering he was up against Mbappe. The PSG attacker switched off in the early stages, letting Strinic past before recovering with his pace, but wouldn’t have been too disappointed to see that Strinic was happily leaving his left-back zone unoccupied.

France players invade press conference

France should have made this space count midway through the first half, when Pogba’s fine diagonal pass released Mbappe on the break, reminiscent of his runs against Argentina in the 4-3 second round win. Antoine Griezmann, however, had sprinted into the same zone, making life easy for Domagoj Vida, who therefore emerged from the two-against-one situation with the ball.

The goals, of course, stemmed from set-pieces: Mandzukic nodded into his own goal from a free-kick, Perisic’s deflected equaliser also came after a free-kick, and Griezmann’s penalty emerged from a corner. That said, France’s corner had been won after Vida headed behind unnecessarily after Hugo Lloris had looked for one of Mbappe’s searing runs, which was essentially France’s only attacking strategy.

Mbappe's future lies through the middle, not out wide (Reuters) (REUTERS)

Those Mbappe runs, the most obvious factor that might decide this game, became increasingly crucial after half-time. With Croatia chasing the game, they pushed forward more and allowed space to break into. France had started the second half trying to close down higher up the pitch and compete in midfield, but their defence took a surprisingly cautious defensive line, which simply created space in midfield. Eventually they retreated into a deeper block again.

France’s transitions were largely poor, although counter-attacking football only needs a couple of positive moments to prove effective. Mbappe was twice released at the start of the second half, first when Olivier Giroud typically cushioned an aerial ball backwards for a teammate under heavy pressure. Pogba latched onto the ball and slid a pass in behind for Mbappe, who motored through on the outside of Vida, but couldn’t squeeze the ball past Danijel Subasic.

A similar move brought France’s third goal. Pogba arrowed one of his trademark driven, slightly sliced diagonal balls into Mbappe, who dribbled menacingly towards goal before, after a couple of fortunate ricochets, Pogba curled the ball home.

Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe of France celebrate victory (Getty)

The danger man, Mbappe, essentially sealed the victory, although somewhat surprisingly it was after drifting inside between the lines, rather than using his speed on the outside. Receiving a square pass from Lucas Hernandez, he checked over his shoulder to ensure Vida hadn’t followed him inside, then opened out his body as if to bend the ball into the far post, before drilling the ball into the opposite corner. Mbappe was this tournament’s most dangerous wide player, but the 19-year-old’s future might be through the middle.

Even with a three-goal lead, France continued to look nervous in defence. Lloris’ error for Mandzukic’s goal was utterly bizarre, yet also consistent with how France had been rattled: by Croatian pressure high up the pitch. Their pass completion rate here, of 68 per cent, was incredibly low, and owes much to Croatia’s press.