Mario Mandzukic, left, fired Croatia into Sunday's World Cup final with a winner against England, while Kylian Mbappe of France has cored three times in Russia to propel Les Bleus to the final. AFP
Mario Mandzukic, left, fired Croatia into Sunday's World Cup final with a winner against England, while Kylian Mbappe of France has cored three times in Russia to propel Les Bleus to the final. AFP
Mario Mandzukic, left, fired Croatia into Sunday's World Cup final with a winner against England, while Kylian Mbappe of France has cored three times in Russia to propel Les Bleus to the final. AFP
Mario Mandzukic, left, fired Croatia into Sunday's World Cup final with a winner against England, while Kylian Mbappe of France has cored three times in Russia to propel Les Bleus to the final. AFP

Put the brakes on Mbappe - how Croatia can win the World Cup final


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

World Cup final

Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region

Putting the brakes on Mbappe

Oh, how Croatia’s kilometre-laden legs will not fancy a night chasing after Kylian Mbappe. The French flier has been one of the tournament’s headline acts, allying searing pace with an ability to offer the truly spectacular. Croatia struggled initially with Raheem Sterling in the semi-final, and he is effectively Mbappe-lite: not as quick, powerful or clinical (although still a real threat). Unlike Sterling through the middle on Wednesday, Mbappe will presumably start on the right, which means he will be in direct battle with Ivan Strinic, who came off early against England with what appeared to be fatigue. As has been noted before, Ivan Perisic does not provide Strinic requisite cover on the left flank. It could be a trying night.

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Profile: Zlatko Dalic, the Croatian manager on the cusp of World Cup glory who made his name at Al Ain

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Modric mastering the midfield

OK, it's pretty obvious: if Croatia are to have any chance of snatching the World Cup – Croatia! – Luka Modric needs to grab hold of the game and not let it slip. Against England, the Croatia captain looked to be suffocating as England routinely bypassed the midfield. However, from the beginning of the second half until his legs evidently could carry him no more, Modric was superb: controlling, orchestrating and generally ensuring the match throbbed to his beat. No one at the World Cup has run more than Modric’s 63 kilometres. Yet he is up against a quietly (less loudly) impressive Paul Pogba, Blase Matuidi’s dynamism and N’Golo Kante’s beautifully effective effervescence. Can Modric wrestle free from the Chelsea terrier in particular?

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2018 World Cup final predictions: will it be France or Croatia who lift the trophy?

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Mandzukic setting the tone

In the past two pre-match press conferences, Modric and Zlatko Dalic have both been asked to explain Mario Mandzukic’s importance to the team. Each time, they have simply smirked, then waxed lyrical about his character and his commitment to the cause. On Sunday, again Mandzukic will lead the line, and again, will be asked to form the first line of defence. But his main role should be to unsettle Raphael Varane. Mandzukic must be a persistent pest, an irritant and a concern for the slick France centre-back. The Juventus forward sets the tone, pushes others to follow, although his winner against England underlined his clear talent, too. If anyone embodies Croatia’s indomitable spirit, it is he.

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Read more

Extra Time podcast: Comeback kings Croatia to come up short against Mbappe

Imperious France have all the tools to deliver a second World Cup trophy

France to use Euro 2016 heartache to spur them on to World Cup glory, says Deschamps

Richard Jolly: Luka Modric's place in the World Cup final with Croatia is a triumph of character

Ivan Rakitic confident Croatia will have the 'energy' to defeat France in World Cup final

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The currency conundrum

Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”

Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.

This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Nick's journey in numbers

Countries so far: 85

Flights: 149

Steps: 3.78 million

Calories: 220,000

Floors climbed: 2,000

Donations: GPB37,300

Prostate checks: 5

Blisters: 15

Bumps on the head: 2

Dog bites: 1

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

MATCH INFO

England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)

New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England World Cup squad

Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

World Cup final

Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region