So many thoughts.
France didn't turn up in the first half, showed nothing... Thank god that ridiculous decision didn't decide this final. It didn't deserve it after the tournament we have had. Croatia had been brilliant and were losing this game because of a free-kick that wasn't a free-kick and a penalty that wasn't a penalty.
To be fair, it wasn't like VAR awarded the pen, when it was the ref. VAR or no VAR, we’ll still have referees who make **** decisions. If you need to look at something that many times, it’s not a clear error and you’re not sure it’s needs changing. Nonsense. That side of the process needs the biggest look-at of all. Especially because the laws of football read like they were drafted by a child. Define your terms so we know what “deliberate” means - it’s not hard.
Whatever. France were deserving winners on the basis of the whole tournament...just not tonight. The best team lost tonight. But either way, Croatia had nothing to lose after all they'd been through. And they nearly went and won anyway...they lost tonight but they weren't beaten. Just very proud of them here.
Modric's Golden Ball well deserved for a phenomenal effort all tournament. Reminder: he turns 33 in September. Mbappe a well deserved young player, Griezmann probably deserved MOTM this final, Courtois being best goalie is fair enough and Harry Kane will get a knighthood for that Golden Boot. Despite, or maybe even because, of the way he won it.
A great game to sum up all football this one...especially if VAR becomes mainstream. Really, you can't knock this final for intrigue and excitement. I'm not sure about quality. But it was certainly memorable... A crazy game to bring to an end a wonderful month of football. The wildest month of football I've ever lived through. One of my nations got to the semis, the other got to the final. But I suppose this dream had to come to an end at some point...I'll just show everyone in the world this entire WC if I wanted to get them into football. I'd quite fancy trying that, actually. Especially given this could be the last truly great World Cup at this rate. Let's not speak of the two WCs coming up next...
Oh, and finally: Karius' first name is Loris. Coincidence? I think not.