2018 FIFA World Cup Final facts for kids
The France team holds the World Cup trophy
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| Event | 2018 FIFA World Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 15 July 2018 | ||||||
| Venue | Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Antoine Griezmann (France) | ||||||
| Referee | Néstor Pitana (Argentina) | ||||||
| Attendance | 78,011 | ||||||
| Weather | Partly cloudy 27 °C (81 °F) 51% humidity |
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The 2018 FIFA World Cup Final was the exciting last match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This big football tournament happens every four years. It brings together the best men's national football teams from around the world. The final game was played on July 15, 2018, in Moscow, Russia. The two teams competing were France and Croatia. France won the match with a score of 4–2.
A special moment happened when Mario Mandžukić scored an own goal for Croatia early in the game. This was the first time an own goal was scored in a World Cup final! The team that won the World Cup also got to play in the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Contents
How the Teams Reached the Final
Both France and Croatia played many games to reach the final. They started in the group stage, then moved on to the knockout rounds.
France's Journey
France was in Group C. They played against Australia, Peru, and Denmark.
- France beat Australia 2–1.
- They won against Peru 1–0.
- Their game against Denmark ended in a 0–0 draw.
France finished first in their group.
In the knockout stage, France kept winning:
- Round of 16: They beat Argentina in a thrilling 4–3 game.
- Quarter-finals: They won 2–0 against Uruguay.
- Semi-finals: They defeated Belgium 1–0 to reach the final.
Croatia's Journey
Croatia was in Group D. They played against Nigeria, Argentina, and Iceland.
- Croatia won their first game against Nigeria 2–0.
- They had a big 3–0 win over Argentina.
- They beat Iceland 2–1.
Croatia also finished first in their group.
In the knockout stage, Croatia had some very close games:
- Round of 16: They drew 1–1 with Denmark, then won 3–2 in a penalty shootout.
- Quarter-finals: They drew 2–2 with Russia, then won 4–3 in another penalty shootout.
- Semi-finals: They beat England 2–1 in extra time to make it to the final.
The Final Match: France vs. Croatia
The final match was held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. It was a very exciting game with six goals!
Match Details
| 15 July 2018 18:00 MSK (UTC+3) |
France  |
4–2 |  Croatia |
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow Attendance: 78,011 Referee: Néstor Pitana (Argentina) |
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Mandžukić  19' (o.g.)Griezmann 38' (pen.)Pogba 59'Mbappé 65' |
Report | Perišić 29' Mandžukić 69' |
Key Moments and Goals
- 19th minute: France scored first with an own goal by Croatia's Mario Mandžukić.
- 29th minute: Croatia quickly equalized with a goal from Ivan Perišić.
- 38th minute: France took the lead again with a penalty kick scored by Antoine Griezmann.
- 59th minute: Paul Pogba scored a fantastic goal for France, making it 3–1.
- 65th minute: Young star Kylian Mbappé scored France's fourth goal.
- 69th minute: Mario Mandžukić scored for Croatia, making the score 4–2.
France held on to their lead and won the match, becoming the 2018 FIFA World Cup champions!
Player Lineups
Here are the main players who started for each team:
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Antoine Griezmann from France was chosen as the Man of the Match for his great performance.
Match Statistics
Here are some interesting facts about how the teams played:
| Statistic | France | Croatia |
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| Goals scored | 4 | 2 |
| Total shots | 8 | 15 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 3 |
| Saves | 3 | 1 |
| Ball possession | 39% | 61% |
| Corner kicks | 2 | 6 |
| Fouls committed | 14 | 13 |
| Offsides | 1 | 1 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 1 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Related pages
Images for kids
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An example of the Adidas Telstar Mechta ball used in the match
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The exterior of the Luzhniki Stadium at night with Moscow State University in the background
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Néstor Pitana officiated the final.
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Teams lined up prior to kick-off
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Antoine Griezmann was named the man of the match after scoring one goal and assisting another.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Final de la Copa Mundial de Fútbol de 2018 para niños
