Croatia and France’s matchup in the 2018 World Cup Final will be a rematch of the 1998 World Cup semifinal, where, 20 years ago, the French buried the Croatians 2-1 before winning their first Cup against powerhouse Brazil. Things may be different this year, though – both of their tournament runs are illustrative of international football’s entropy at work. Although talent is monumental, scoring chances must be seized upon, as, at this level, scoring alleys close quickly and appear sparingly. France’s place was never in doubt, but Croatia’s last three matches either went to penalties or extra time.
Yet, these two national teams are only a taste of what’s been a scintillating month of international football from the group stage to the knockout rounds. Before a nation claims the football world kingdom, let’s observe some of the themes, teams, individuals and events that got us here.
