FULL-TIME: France 4-2 Croatia
France are crowned WORLD CHAMPIONS after defeating Croatia in the World Cup Final!
88' Croatia refusing to give up as Rakitic fires from range over the crossbar.
France will be happy to let Croatia shoot from that far out.
81' France 4-2 Croatia
Croatia dominating possession still but just lacking the final ball to open up the France defence.
69' France 4-2 Croatia
Mandzukic catches Lloris in possession and scores!!Horrible mistake by the goalkeeper!!
64' France 4-1 Croatia
KYLIAN MBAPPE hits the back of the net and becomes the first teenager since PELE to score in a World Cup final!!
62' France 3-1 Croatia
Paul Pogba might have put his name into the history books with a perfect finish.
Les Bleus
break away and when his first shot is blocked, he uses Modric as a
shield to sweep a left-footer into the net with the goalkeeper
unsighted.
60' France 3-1 Croatia
Paul Pogba gives France a 2 goal lead with an unstoppable left-footed shot!!!
48' France are on the back foot as Mandzukic dispossess Varane but fails to find a team-mate.
France can't hold on to it at the moment.
46' We're back underway in the second-half!
Coatia been the better team in this half by far, only to not be ahead. #WorldCupFinal
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 15, 2018
Think one of the problems with VAR is slow motion makes everything looks worse and more deliberate - contact with players, hand to ball, arm/leg movements #var #worldcup #FRACRO
— Andy Jackson (@Jacko442) July 15, 2018
So the ref takes 5 minutes to decides wether he wants to give a penalty or not and extra time is only 3 min?
— Ryan Babel (@Ryanbabel) July 15, 2018
HALF-TIME: France 2-1 Croatia
Croatia can count themselves somewhat unfortunate tonight so far. France have not had to do much on the pitch, but they've already scored two goals.
First Mandzukic's own goal, and now Perisic's handball gifted Griezmann the opportunity to put France in front - which he took.
43' The ball drops to Lovren in the France box who thumps it against a French defender.
France are still really struggling to deal with Croatia's direct style of play.
42' Even with Griezmann putting his side ahead from the penalty spot, Les Bleus still have the same problem to solve: they are losing all the duels, in the air and on the ground.
Griezmann's precision on free-kicks has been
a precious and so far dangerous weapon, but it is not going to be
enough against this battling Croatian team.
37' France 2-1 Croatia
Antoine Griezmann gives France back the lead from the penalty spot.
Should the penalty have been awarded though.
33' CHANCE for France as Griemann swings in a corner that strikes Perisic's hand as France claim hand-ball!
The referee is checking the replay!
PENALTY!!!!!
What a response!
France fail to clear a Croatia free-kick delivered deep from left to right and Ivan Perisic takes control, stepping around his marker and slamming a left-footed drive into the far corner with the aid of a slight deflection.
GAME ON!
28' France 1-1 Croatia
The ball fall to Ivan Perisic in the box who absolutely SLAMS IT HOME!!!!
20' LIVE: France 1-0 Croatia
It's against the run of play but France strike first! Griezmann floats in a free-kick from the right channel and Mandzukic is the unfortunate man to flick a header into the top corner of his own team's net.
Les Bleus lead in Moscow!
18' France 1-0 Croatia
France take the lead through a Mario Mandzukic own goal!!
17' FRANCE!!!!!!!!!!
FULL-TIME: FRANCE 4-2 CROATIA. Les Bleus are the 2018 World Champions! The heartbreak of 2006 and 2016 and the demons of 2010 are laid to rest! The celebrations will live long into the night! Thank you for staying with us through our coverage.
Barring a miracle now, Didier Deschamps will become only the third man in history to win the World Cup both as a player and a coach.
Vrsaljko puts in a clumsy sliding challenge in on Griezmann and picks up a yellow card. Croatias frustration is showing.
Croatia lose the ball in a dangerous position. Mbappe races away and plays the ball to Pogba, but he is dispossessed on Frances right.
Were into five minutes of stoppage time. Thats all that separates France from a second World Cup title.
Rakitic tries a shot from long range, but it curls away from Lloris goal. Croatia are still in this, but they need to hurry.
Rakitic fouls Fekir, who makes the most of the challenge. The ensuing passage of play following the free-kick leads to Fekir getting a long-range shot at goal, but Subasic saves comfortably.
Croatia win a free-kick, but I think Rakitic wanted play to go on judging by his reaction. Anyway, he delivers into the area from the left, but Lloris plucks his ball out of the air.
SUBS: Giroud makes way for Fekir and Strinic for Pjaca. Both coaches are changing things up.
Mbappe charges at the Croatian defence, but despite his pace, he cant go all the way himself and eventually loses his footing.
Rakitic tries to pull off something special from the edge of the box, but he fails to catch the ball cleanly with his left foot and his low shot misses the target by some distance.
Croatia throw bodies forward. First Varane and then Umtiti have to head crosses aimed into the danger area away.
SUB: Matuidi takes his time heading off as he makes way to a rousing reception to be replaced by Tolisso.
SUB: Kramaric comes on for Croatia to replace Rebic as Zlatko Dalic chases yet another game
GOAL, CROATIA, MANDZUKIC! 4-2: Absolute blunder from Lloris, who looks to dribble round Mandzukic and ends up gifting him a goal! The striker makes amends for that own goal earlier. Game still on.
GOAL, FRANCE, MBAPPE! 4-1: My goodness, what a strike! Mbappe gets the ball outside the box from Hernandez and drills it into the bottom corner! The first World Cup final goal from a teenager since Pele!
France look really threatening now. Brozovic is forced to take the ball off Girouds toe and clear behind. The ensuing corner is dealt with by Croatia.
GOAL, FRANCE, POGBA! 3-1: Theres his moment in the spotlight! Pogba is teed up by Griezmann on the edge of the box. His first shot is blocked, but his second is a screamer! France double their lead!
Lloris comfortably holds onto a cross aimed in from the left. France were under pressure at the beginning of the half, but Croatia arent penetrating them as easily anymore.
SUB: Kante makes way for France and is replaced by NZonzi.
CHANCE! At the other end, Mbappe is played in behind Vida and forces a fine save from Subasic, who stuck out a leg to stop him!
Modrics corner is headed out by Griezmann, but only as far as Vrsaljko, who tries a long-range shot, but doesnt catch it cleanly and fires well off target.
And now Perisic is nearly played in. Lloris has to come out to cut out the ball forward. France need to be careful at the back.
SAVE! At the other end, Rebic is played in behind the defence and forces a flying save from Lloris with his first-time hit! This game shows no sign of dying down.
Griezmann tries a long-range shot at goal. He catches it nicely, but Subasic is able to hold onto it.
KICK-OFF! The second half is underway. We can only hope its half as entertaining as the first.
HALF-TIME: FRANCE 2-1 CROATIA. A Mandzukic own goal and a Griezmann penalty have sent France into the break ahead. Perisic scored a sublime goal of his own sandwiched in between Frances two.
Were into three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half. Rakitic looks for Vida from another corner, but he cant divert the ball on target.
Lovren smashes the ball into Pogba and behind for a corner. The delivery from Rakitic is nervously cleared behind. The second ball in is dealt with properly.
Croatia have shown such mental strength to get here. Can they fight back again? Rebic gets a shot at goal, but cant catch the ball cleanly. No problem for Lloris.
Lucas Hernandez picks up a yellow card for his foul on Rebic now.
GOAL, FRANCE, GRIEZMANN! 2-1: Subasic dives left, but Griezmann rolls the ball to the other side. France are back in front!
PENALTY! Indeed, there was a handball from Perisic following a French corner! VAR has its first involvement in a World Cup final!
France are appealing for a handball inside the penalty area. The goalscorer, Perisic, could be in trouble here.
Perisic has really looked hungry from the first whistle. He still does, mind you. He is causing havoc in the French defence.
GOAL, CROATIA, PERISIC! 1-1: After some pinball inside the French box, Perisic gets possession on the edge, takes a touch, and blasts the ball into the bottom corner! All square again!
Kante picks up the first yellow card of the game for tripping Perisic from behind.
Modrics inswinging free-kick delivery from the left is punched away by Lloris. Croatia attack again, this time down the right, but from there, Rakitic volleys off target.
Croatia look for an instant response. Modrics free-kick delivery from the right picks out Vida, but he heads wide of the target.
GOAL, FRANCE, MANDZUKIC (OG): 1-0: Having won a free-kick off Brozovic, Griezmann delivers into the area. The ball goes into the net off Mandzukics head! Hero to zero!
At the other end, Mbappe looks to cut back for Griezmann, but sees his ball from the right cut out too.
Perisic finds himself in space on the left, but as he looks to slide the ball into the danger area to pick out a team-mate, Umtiti cuts the pass out.
Umtiti looks to launch a ball for Giroud in behind the defence, but he cant quite pick out the Chelsea striker, who appears to applaud the idea.
Croatia have looked the more threatening of the two sides early on. French fans will be remembering the Euro 2016 final against Portugal, in which they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat.
Mbappe puts in an important tackle in on Strinic to put the ball behind before he can get it into the danger area. The ensuing Modric corner is headed away.
The game has gotten off to a really cagey start. Thats no surprise perhaps, given the magnitude of the occasion.
Modric trips Umtiti as he looks to dribble out from the back. France get an early free-kick.
KICK-OFF! Argentine referee Nestor Pitana gets the game underway and Croatia get the ball rolling!
The national anthems have been sung, the teams are shaking hands, and its nearly time for the game to get underway.
Croatia have survived three 120-minute matches and two penalty shootouts to get here, while Frances passage to the final has been smoother. None of that matters anymore as the teams walk out.
Philipp Lahm presents the World Cup trophy to the crowd at the Luzhniki Stadium. After 90 minutes of football and possibly extra time and penalties, we will have a new champion.
The venue today in Moscow is the same which 10 years ago hosted the Champions League final, which saw Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties.
Croatia are attempting to win their first World Cup ever today, while 1998 champions France are looking to repeat the achievements of past heroes.
Croatia bench: Pjaca, Badelj, Caleta-Car, Bradaric, Jedvaj, Kalinic, Kramaric, Kovacic, Corluka, Livakovic, Pivaric.
France bench: Areola, Mendy, Thauvin, Sidibe, Fekir, Rami, Mandanda, Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembele, Tolisso, NZonzi.
While the closing ceremony takes place, lets also have a look at the substitutes benches...
Croatia starting XI: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Brozovic, Rebic, Modric, Perisic, Mandzukic.
France starting XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Kante, Pogba, Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of international football's biggest fixture. Four years ago, Mario Gotze's goal gave Germany victory over Argentina in Brazil. Today, France and Croatia face off at the Luzhniki Stadium in the 2018 World Cup final.