France has embraced its second World Cup title with a 4-2 win over Croatia.
The dramatic ending in Moscow featured a series of firsts and a pitch invasion orchestrated by Russian exception group Pussy Riot.
France led 2-1 at halftime courtesy of the first own-goal and the before video-reviewed penalty in a World Cup final. The own-goal off the top of Mario Mandzukic’s head was the 12th of the meet. That’s double the previous World Cup record of six.
Croatia rallied to square on a terrific left-foot strike by Ivan Perisic, but France took the chief right back when Perisic handled the ball in the area. Argentine referee Nestor Pitana initially didn’t notification the handball but awarded the spot kick after a video review. Antoine Griezmann converted the penance to put France back in front.
Four pitch invaders disrupted the business in the 52nd minute for about a minute before being dragged away by custodianship and police. Punk rock group Pussy Riot quickly asked responsibility for the pitch invasion via social media, saying it was a protest intent at ending illegal arrests of protesters and to allow political competition in Russia.
Piece resumed and France quickly took a 4-1 lead with goals from Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe in the 59th and 65th smalls before Mario Mandzukic pulled one back for the Croatians in the 69th.
Croatia was undertaking in its first World Cup final. For France, it was a first World Cup crown since engaging on home soil in 1998.