World Cup final preview and predictions

And then there were two. Croatia, the comeback kings, will face France in the final of the 2018 World Cup after overcoming England and Belgium respectively.

France, world champions in 1998, contest their third World Cup final, while Croatia, population four million, are bidding to win the tournament for the first time.

Zlatko Dalic, less than 10 months into the Croatia job, will pit his wits against France’s Didier Deschamps, who is bidding to join Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer as the only men to have lifted the World Cup as both player and manager.

The stage would seem to be set for Kylian Mbappe. The teenage striker showed against Belgium why many have tipped him as a future Ballon d’Or winner. But Croatia have already proved at this tournament they care little for reputations, and in Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, have two world-class midfielders who will look to impose their influence at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Before that, Belgium, arguably the most entertaining side in Russia throughout the tournament, take on England in the third place play-off.

Steve Luckings and Graham Caygill offer their thoughts and analysis, and give their predictions on who will win the remaining two matches at the 2018 World Cup.