Big Match Breakdown: France v Croatia

Zlatko Dalic also has no new injury concerns and should stick with the same XI that saw off England. Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Strinic and Sime Vrsaljko are all expected to start after overcoming minor niggles and knocks. Luka Modric once again provides the impetus in the middle of the park.

Key Battles

Can the Croatia defence cope with the pace and trickery of French starlet Mbappe? If they can’t, the 19-year-old could have a field day. Dejan Lovren, one of the world’s best defenders by his own admission, will have his work cut out. Indeed, it’s the pace and youthful energy of France which is likely to cause Croatia the most problems.

The outsiders will once again be looking towards the midfield pair of Modric and Ivan Rakitic to try and pick the French lock. Combined with the trickery of Perisic and persistence and wiliness of Mandzukic, they should cause problems.

What the game essentially boils down to is experience v youth. The latter should be able to overcome the former, but as Croatia showed against England, you can’t take anything for granted.

Match Odds

France are the 4/9 favourites to lift their first World Cup trophy since 1998. Croatia are 13/8 to win via any method.

Unsurprisingly, Les Bleus are also odds-on to win the match inside 90 minutes at 10/11. You can back the draw at 11/5, with Valtreni priced at 19/5.

Tournament finals are traditionally a low-scoring affair. The last two have both contained just a single goal, while only one since 1986 has had more than two goals. It’s 4/9 for there to be Under 2.5 Goals tonight, with Both Teams to Score – No, marked up at 6/10.

If goals are on the cards, then Didier Deschamps men are considered the most likely scorers. Last-16 hero Kylian Mbappe is 19/10 to Score Anytime. He shares that price with Antoine Griezmann.

Centre-halves have broken the deadlock in France’s last two matches. You can back Raphael Varane to Score First at 22/1. Mandzukic is the 3/1 favourite to Score Anytime for Croatia, with Modric priced slightly longer at 5/1 Anytime.

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing