So after an exhilarating one month of football, the 2018 FIFA World Cup which has thrown up some amazing surprises and wonderful performances, comes to a close on Sunday, July 15.
Ahead of the much-anticipated finale game between France and Croatia, Ghanaian football lovers have tipped the French side to win their second World Cup on Sunday.
Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti was the unlikely hero as France reached the World Cup final in 20 years courtesy of a 1-0 win over Belgium in St Petersburg on Tuesday and the Les Bleus nationals will once again be counting on their team when they face Croatia who also managed to qualify to the final courtesy Mario Mandzukic’s goal in the extra time.
This will be France's third final at World Cup having won their first World Cup trophy when they hosted the tournament in 1998 mauling five-time winners Brazil 3-0 in the final. Prior to the 1998 glory, the French came from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1 in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup thanks to an unlikely brace from Lilian Thuram.
France have been to three finals in the last two decades winning only and losing two. They lost the 2006 World Cup final to Italy and lost the 2016 European Cup to Portugal.
France are unbeaten in their five previous games with Croatia, winning three times. The teams also drew 2-2 in the group stage at Euro 2004. The only meeting since then was a goalless draw in a friendly at the Stade de France in March 2011.
France have a plethora of players with African heritage, and thus enjoy a lot of support from the African continent. In many ways that could be the reason many Ghanaians are rooting behind the French team to lift the trophy.
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