A World Cup that showcased insipid fare all through, with early exits for champions and light shining brightly on underdogs even as new stars were born, finished with a flourish tonight.
Emotions surged with tears of joy from Griezman, one of the four goal-scorers for France who took home the title with a convincing 4-2 win over Croatia in what was a fitting finish to a month of feverish football, at times exhilarating and often dull, in Russia.
This, to me, was the best game of the Cup – reasonably clean, beautiful goals and hardly any evidence of oneupmanship with both sides playing as well-coordinated teams with neither self-centricity nor random passing.
And, how can one not recall the magical goal from Kylian Mbappe, the teenage sensation who looks set to dominate world Football over the next decade!
Griezman got his goal from the spot, still it was a very well taken kick with the ball flowing smoothly through the ground into the net, not up and above, leaving the keeper diving in the wrong direction.
Significantly, the title was decided upon within 90 minutes, without slipping into extra-time and a shootout, which can be heartbreaking for the loser and less satisfying for the winner.
Croatia, who had given the Messi-led Argentina a 3-0 thrashing at the group stage, was a deserving finalist.
France, though, played like the champions they are and ensured the title was in their grasp with a win as convincing as Djokovic taking home the Wimbledon crown just about an hour earlier!
G Joslin Vethakumar
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