World Cup final preview: France v Croatia

Weeks of build-up, years if you count qualification, have led to Sunday afternoon’s World Cup final where France and Croatia will come face to face at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

1600 BST France v Croatia (BBC)

Croatia have never made it to a final before, their previous best performance was reaching the semis in 1998, and Zlatko Dalic’s side is built around the ageing talents of Luka Modrić, Mario Mandžukić and Ivan Rakitić, who are unlikely to get another chance at a World Cup final.

Indeed, the team’s achievement of making it so far is already astounding when you consider that Croatia has a population of 4.2m and was only formed in 1991.

The may face an uphill struggle against fatigue on Sunday however, as after knocking out England after extra-time they have now played three 120-minute matches on their route to the final, a whole standard football match more than the French have experienced.

Fitness does not appear to worry Rakitić however, as after the semi-final against England he said: "I was lying in bed finding the strength to play and it was worth it. I would play a final without a leg if necessary."

France are in the final for the third time in their history, having won the competition when they hosted it in 1998 and lost on penalties to Italy in 2006.

Manager Didier Deschamps, who was in the 1998 side as a defensive midfielder, is looking to become just the third person to win the competition as a player and as a coach, after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer.

The French will be favourites against Croatia after knocking out a number of world football’s big hitters such as Argentina and Belgium.

Les Bleus were also favourites in the final of Euro 2016 where they ended up losing to Portugal after a lacklustre performance.

Didier Deschamps’ side’s forward line has looked explosive with the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud gelling together and working to each other’s strengths.

Midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who has also looked like an attacking threat in the competition, should be available to start despite being forced off against Belgium following a collision with Eden Hazard.

France head coach Deschamps: "There is a spirit in the squad that can move mountains. They are young and they will be even stronger in two and four years' time. We have created an opportunity to become world champions but we are still not there. But we want to fulfil our destiny."