Croatia will play their first World Cup final in 16 years. The farewell game on home soil turned out to be a superb party highlighting red, white and blue power shots, devoted defense and electrical enthusiasm, 31–28 against France.
It was an evening created for national heroes in cooperation appreciative aficionados. A fully charged home crowd in the final game in Arena Zagreb added to the elite experience.
France was well prepared and Dika Mem found the top gear with his magnificent distance shots.
Ivan Martinovic powered through in the other direction, equal success for his teammates meant the French goalkeeper Remi Desbonnet had a hard time between the posts.
Croatia also had the better defense from the start, a passing error led to a fast break and 9–5 from Marin Jelinic spurred on by the roar of the audience.
Martinovic continued in jump shot mode while France added some technical faults in the unwanted mix. The Croatian crowd couldn’t be happier when the returning hero Domagoj Duvnjak entered the pitch while the lead just grew.
Towards the end of the half France tried seven against six, but there was no apparent flow and Croatia had strong 18–11-lead at half-time.
France brought the blue-collar to the second half and managed to disturb Croatia by narrowing in on the opponents moving space. There were setbacks, a red card for Aymeric Minne just a few minutes after the break but generally France upped their game.
Except all the attempts from the chasing team, Croatia held on to at least a five-goal lead with 15 minutes remaining,
Evidently, to reach the final the winner had to show champion qualities. The last quarter was a ling one for Croatia as France reduce the gap. Mem had saved his energy for the sprint effort but Croatia managed produced enough goals to triumph.
Some goals were more important than others, Ivan Karacic breakthrough to 25–29 on the board allowed Croatia a relief with two ongoing suspensions. Filip Glavas placed a penalty in the net in the next attack for the home team, with three minutes to go as the atmosphere reached maximum level.
France–Croatia 28–31 (12–15)