It was raining in Moscow. Not just a drizzle, but a full-on, cinematic downpour that soaked Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, and every single blade of grass at the Luzhniki Stadium. Beneath that deluge, the answer to who won 2018 World Cup became permanent: France. They beat Croatia 4-2 in a game that felt chaotic, weird, and clinical all at once. It wasn't just a win; it was a changing of the guard that still dictates how international football is played today.
France became two-time champions.
They didn't do it with the "Joga Bonito" flair of old Brazil or the suffocating "Tiki-taka" of 2010 Spain. Didier Deschamps, the French manager, basically built a machine. It was a team designed to hurt you on the break, using the terrifying speed of a then-teenaged Kylian Mbappé and the quiet, almost invisible efficiency of N’Golo Kanté.
The Path to the Star
If you look back at the bracket, France's run was actually a gauntlet. They didn't stumble into the final. They had to dismantle Argentina in a 4-3 thriller that basically signaled the end of Jorge Sampaoli's chaotic tenure. Then they ground down a stubborn Uruguay. Then they beat a "Golden Generation" Belgium side that many people honestly thought was the best team in the tournament.
But the final? The final was different.
Croatia was the story everyone wanted to believe in. They had played three consecutive extra-time matches. They were exhausted. Luka Modrić was playing like a man possessed, winning the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player, but even his brilliance couldn't overcome the sheer physical depth of the French squad.
There was a moment in the first half—an own goal by Mario Mandžukić—that felt like an omen. It was the first own goal ever in a World Cup final. Then there was a VAR penalty, the first of its kind in a final too, tucked away by Antoine Griezmann. Croatia kept fighting, Perišić leveled it at one point, but then the floodgates opened. Paul Pogba and Mbappé scored goals from outside the box that felt like daggers. By the time Mandžukić capitalized on a Hugo Lloris mistake to make it 4-2, it was over. The whistle blew. France had their second star.
Why France's Victory Changed Everything
We talk about who won 2018 World Cup as a simple fact, but the tactical shift was huge. Before 2018, there was this obsession with possession. Everyone wanted to be Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Deschamps said "no thanks."
He realized that in international football, where you only have a few weeks to train, complex systems usually fail. He chose pragmatism. He played Blaise Matuidi—a literal central midfielder—on the left wing just to provide balance and defensive cover. It wasn't "pretty" to the purists, but it was impossible to beat.
You had Antoine Griezmann acting as the connective tissue, dropping deep to defend and then launching 50-yard balls to Mbappé. It was the birth of "Transition Football" as the dominant global meta. If you look at the teams that have succeeded since—including the 2022 finalists—they all share that French DNA of being comfortable without the ball.
The Breakout of Kylian Mbappé
You can't discuss the 2018 winner without talking about the kid from Bondy. Mbappé was 19. He became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pelé in 1958.
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Think about that.
For sixty years, no "wonderkid" actually lived up to the hype on the biggest stage until he showed up. His performance against Argentina in the Round of 16 is still used by coaches today to show what "verticality" looks like. He didn't just run; he obliterated defensive lines.
The Croatian Heartbreak
Honestly, it’s worth noting that while France won the trophy, Croatia won the world's respect. They are a country of roughly 4 million people. To see them outplay France in terms of possession (61% to 39%) and shots in the final was staggering.
Ivan Rakitić and Modrić controlled the tempo, but they couldn't control the scoreline. It's a reminder that in football, especially in a final, efficiency beats elegance every single time.
The Statistics You Probably Missed
While the 4-2 scoreline suggests a blowout, it was the highest-scoring final in normal time since 1958. It broke a trend of boring, 1-0 or 0-0 cagey finals.
- France's Shot Conversion: They only had 8 shots in the entire final. They scored four goals. That is a 50% conversion rate on the biggest stage in the world.
- The Set Piece Factor: France scored a massive portion of their goals throughout the tournament from dead-ball situations. Raphaël Varane’s header against Uruguay, Samuel Umtiti’s winner against Belgium.
- The Kanté Effect: Despite being subbed off early in the final because he was reportedly sick, N’Golo Kanté finished the tournament with the most interceptions of any player. He was the reason Pogba had the freedom to roam.
Common Misconceptions About 2018
Some people claim France got lucky. They point to the controversial penalty and the own goal.
Luck is always a factor. Sure.
But look at the roster. Look at the bench. When you can leave players like Karim Benzema (who wasn't in the squad for non-football reasons) or Kingsley Coman at home and still dominate, it's not luck. It's infrastructure. The French academy system at Clairefontaine had been building toward this for twenty years.
Another weird myth is that Paul Pogba played poorly. He was actually monstrous in the final. His long-range passing was the only reason France could bypass Croatia's high press. His goal in the 59th minute was the definitive "game over" moment.
How to Relive the 2018 Magic
If you’re looking to dive back into that summer, don't just watch the highlights of the final. The real story is in the nuances.
Watch the full replay of France vs. Argentina. It is arguably the best World Cup game of the 21st century. The lead changed hands multiple times, Benjamin Pavard scored a "goal of the tournament" half-volley that defied physics, and Lionel Messi’s desperation was palpable.
Look at the defensive shape. If you are a student of the game, watch how Raphaël Varane and Lucas Hernandez managed the spaces. It was a masterclass in modern defending.
Analyze the substitutions. Deschamps bringing on Steven Nzonzi for Kanté in the final was a gutsy move that actually stabilized the midfield when it looked like Croatia might find a third goal.
The 2018 World Cup wasn't just about a trophy; it was the moment France proved that their 1998 win wasn't a fluke. They established themselves as the premier talent factory in the world. Even now, years later, the ripples of that rain-soaked night in Moscow are felt in every tactical breakdown and transfer window across Europe.
France won. They won big. And they did it by being the most organized, clinical team the modern era had seen.
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Next Steps for Football Fans
- Check the FIFA+ Archive: You can actually watch full match replays of the 2018 knockout stages for free on FIFA’s official platform.
- Study the "Clairefontaine" Model: If you’re interested in how France stays so good, look up the coaching manuals from their national training center; it explains why they have so much depth.
- Compare to 2022: Watch the 2018 final and the 2022 final back-to-back. You’ll see the evolution of Mbappé from a lightning-fast winger to a complete, focal-point attacker.