As Croatia set date with France, it all comes down to what works on that day
A World Cup of surprises concludes with a final of contrasts.
Powered by the dynamism of Kylian Mbappe, France have youthful exuberance in a side packed with some of football’s highest-value talent. They also have pedigree — winners in 1998 and finalists in 2006.
Croatia have a veteran roster that has been stretched to the limit but continues to win in Russia. The Croats never give in, prevailing in a shootout against Denmark, again on penalties against Russia — after being stung by a late equalizer — and then recovering from conceding early against England.
Just don't suggest Croatia will be weary in Sunday's final when they return to the luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.
Croatia's star midfielder luka Modric said "we will see who will be tired" was the team ethos going into Wednesday's semifinal, feeling Croatia had been under-estimated by the English.
Modric, along with Mario Mandzukic, are the 32-year-olds who have propelled Croatia to their first major soccer final. In the previous four World Cups: Croatia failed to qualify in 2010 and were ousted in the group stage on the other three occasions.
Before then, in their World Cup debut in 1998, Croatia did reach the semifinals, where they lost to France.
When Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visited the team hotel in Moscow on Wednesday, that 1998 game was on his mind — even before beating England.
"We might have the chance for the revenge in the finals with the French," Plenkovic said.
Now they get it.
Croatia advanced to their first World Cup final with a 2-1 extra-time win over England on Wednesday night. France beat Belgium 1-0 a night earlier.
"We have a good opportunity to give them something back for 20 years ago when they reached the final," Croatia defender Dejan lovren said. "Maybe it's our time to revenge something but it's a tough game and it will be difficult."
A country of 65 million, France has stars like 19-year-old sensation Mbappe, midfielder Paul Pogba and striker Antoine Griezmann.
Croatia is the fourth-smallest country of the 32 World Cup teams with just over 4 million people. It has a chance to be the least-populous nation to win since Uruguay took the title in 1950, when it was a nation of just over 2 million.