July 16, 2018: In a high-scoring and at times odd final, France defeated Croatia 4-2 to win its second World Cup in history, putting an end to Croatia's improbable and dramatic rise. Croatia's Mario Mandzukic scored at both ends of the field, Video Assistant Review figured in a controversial handball penalty, the game was threatened by lightning, and a fan ran out onto the field. France persevered and left no doubt it was the superior team. Its coach, Didier Deschamps, is the third man to win a World Cup as both a player and a coach.
