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WHO THE NEXT World Cup winners ?
In the match on Sunday 15 July 2018 at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia.Francis VS Croatia, who will be the champion this year?
Previous
1930 - Uruguay
1934 - Italy
1938 - Italy
1950 - Uruguay
1954 - West Germany
1958 - Brazil
1962 - Brazil
1966 - England
1970 - Brazil
1974 - West Germany
1978 - Argentina
1982 - Italy
1986 - Argentina
1990 - West Germany
1994 - Brazil
1998 - France
2002 - Brazil
2006 - Italy
2010 - Spain
2014 - Germany
2018 - ( ? )
CROATIA
The former Blackburn forward was sent home from the World Cup after he refused to come on as a substitute during his side's opening game, a 2-0 defeat of Nigeria.
Now of AC Milan, Kalinic was sent out to warm up but said he could not take the field as he had a back injury.
Croatia were not allowed to replace him, leaving them with 22 players for the rest of the tournament.
And while Kalinic watches thousands of miles away from Russia, his team-mates have gone on to reach the biggest match of their career.
With a population of 4.17 million, you would think Croatia would be the smallest country to have reached a World Cup final. But that accolade goes to Uruguay, who won the inaugural competition in 1930 with an estimated population of about 1.7 million.
At 20th in Fifa's world rankings, Dalic's side are the lowest-ranked team to reach a World Cup final, and the 13th different nation to do so.
This is the furthest they have advanced in the competition, bettering their third-place finish 20 years ago, when their brilliant run was ended at the last four stage by... eventual champions France.
While this year's semi-final victory shattered dreams in England, it sparked wild celebrations in Zagreb and beyond, with thousands of fans pouring onto the streets, singing, letting off flares and waving red, white and blue flags.
FRANCE
France reached the final of their home European Championship in 2016 but, despite being strong favourites to beat Portugal, they fell short.
The memories of that defeat are driving the team - and the country - this time.
The SudOuest newspaper sees Sunday as a chance to heal the "scar" of two years ago. This time, they say, "the context is different: the players have grown, and there's Kylian Mbappe". The forward is "on fire", "inspires fear", and is one of France's "many weapons capable of breaking the Croatian siege".
The French media have paid particular attention to their team's extra preparation time for the final. They played their semi-final 24 hours before Croatia's, and all their knockout ties have been won in normal time, while their opponents have needed extra time (and penalties twice) in each of their three games since the group stage.
According to Le Figaro, that is a "godsend" against a "talented and promising team capable of posing problems".
For Le Point, it all comes down to the players' states of mind. Despite the extra time, Croatia's mental state has been "faultless" and the team "seems unbeatable".
Mbappe announced himself on the biggest stage with two goals to send the Argentines home in a showing filled with pace, trickery and skill. He will be looking to become only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, after Brazil legend Pele in 1958.
A match-winning display in the final could tip the balance in their favour, while the same could be said for Antoine Griezmann, who is tied on three goals with Mbappe. Both players know a hat-trick would take them level on six goals with England's Harry Kane in the battle for the Golden Boot.
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