France take 2-1 lead over Croatia in World Cup final at halftime

MOSCOW: France were 2-1 ahead against Croatia at halftime in the World Cup final after a pulsating opening 45 minutes at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.

France took the lead when Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic, who scored the extra-time winner over England in the semi-final, inadvertently headed home an Antoine Griezmann free-kick in the 18th minute for the first own goal in a World Cup final.

Key stats:

We’ve not had a #WorldCupFinal with three goals in the first half since 1974

It’s the first #WorldCupFinal with three goals since 1998

So yeah, goals! #FRACRO // #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/DBfXIJQfSR

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

Croatia’s Ivan Perisic, who had also scored in the semi-final, levelled with a powerful shot 10 minutes later after France had failed to clear a Luka Modric free-kick.

But Perisic was then responsible for conceding a penalty for handball that was give following a VAR decision and Griezmann coolly converted the spot-kick in the 38th to put the French back in front.

The first penalty in regular time of a #WorldCupFinal since Zinedine Zidane in 2006! #FRACRO // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fG0CJK10TJ

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

 

It’s all for this. #FRACRO // #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/CXaVFvnDnE

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

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