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Zlatko Dalic insisted that his Croatia team produced their best performance of the World Cup despite losing 4-2 to France in a wildly entertaining final in Moscow.
Croatia dominated the first half and scored through Ivan Perisic but went in at the break 2-1 down, courtesy of a Mario Mandzukic own goal and a controversial VAR-awarded Antoine Griezmann penalty.
France pulled away in the second half, with Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe both beating Danijel Subasic from distance before Mandzukic capitalised on a Hugo Lloris howler to score a consolation for Croatia.
World Cup final: France vs CroatiaShow all 95 1 /95World Cup final: France vs Croatia World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy after France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia The France team line up in front of the World Cup trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic greets President of France Emmanuel Macron alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia's line up ahead of the match
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba is challenged by Mario Mandzukic and Ante Rebic
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris looks on as Olivier Giroud heads a ball
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe controls the ball
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Luka Modric is challenged by N'Golo Kante
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Diego Maradona shouts
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic controls the ball in the penalty box
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Raphael Varane, Mario Mandzukic and Benjamin Pavard collide as they compete for a header
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Samuel Umtiti falls in front of Mario Mandzukic
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann takes a free-kick which assisted the opening goal
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic scores an own goal
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic scores an own goal from Antoine Griezmann's free-kick
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Danijel Subasic looks on as he concedes the opening goal
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Benjamin Pavard and Raphael Varane
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate socring the first goal of the game
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Luka Modric looks on
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Raphael Varane, Mario Mandzukicand Benjamin Pavard go for a header
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Marcelo Brozovic vies for the ball with Olivier Giroud
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic scores Croatia's first goal
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic celebrates after scoring
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia celebrate after scoring
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic handles the ball in the area leading to a VAR review
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana gestures players away before referral to VAR
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana checks the VAR
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia The scoreboard showing a possible penalty review by VAR
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana calls for a penalty after a VAR review
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic argue with Referee Nestor Pitana after he awards France with a penalty
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Players of Croatia react while Antoine Griezmann (L) of France prepares himself to take the a penalty
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann takes the penalty
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann scores France's second past Danijel Subasic
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ngolo Kante is replaced by Steven Nzonzi
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia A woman who invaded the pitch approaches Kylian Mbappe
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia A pitch invader and Kylian Mbappe high five
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba scores France's third goal
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate their fourth goal
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe scores France's fourth goal
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe celebrates his goal with Paul Pogba
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris tries to dribble past Mario Mandzukic
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic gets the ball off Hugo Lloris and scores Croatia's second of the game
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris watches the ball hit the back of the net
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic celebrates scoring as Hugo Lloris holds his head
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate after the won the world cup
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia players dejected after they lost the match
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate at the end of the match
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Olivier Giroud and Adil Rami celebrate winning
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate following their sides victory
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic looks dejected after Croatia lost
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Corentin Tolisso and Presnel Kimpembe celebrate winning the World Cup
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France coach Didier Deschamps is thrown into the air
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate as Domagoj Vida looks dejected after Croatia lost
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Olivier Giroud, Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, Florian Thauvin and Presnel Kimpembe celebrate winning the World Cup
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate with fans after winning the World Cup
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Philippe Lahm takes the World Cup trophy to the stage
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia FIFA president Gianni Infantino and President of Russia Vladimir Putin with the World Cup trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba celebrates victory with team mate Kylian Mbappe
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe with President of France Emmanuel Macron and President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic after being awarded the Best Young Player trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Luka Modric poses with the FIFA Golden Ball award
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players receives their medals from FIFA president Gianni Infantino as President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of France Emmanuel Macron and President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic look on
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with his teammates
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Fireworks go off during the trophy presentation
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba holds the trophy as he celebrates
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Presnel Kimpembe and Thomas Lemar celebrate
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Adil Rami lifts the trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Presnel Kimpembe celebrate with their medals after winning the World Cup
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann kisses the trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Lucas Hernandez celebrates
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Didier Deschamps kisses the trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Benjamin Mendy celebrates with the trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe celebrates with the trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba celebrates with his mother Yeo and brothers Mathias and Florentin
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris and his daughters celebrate with the trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ousmane Dembele, Benjamin Mendy and Kylian Mbappe with the trophy
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World Cup final: France vs Croatia Presnel Kimpembe and Antoine Griezmann celebrate with the trophy
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After the match Dalic pointed to the first-half penalty decision as a key moment in the game, but was gracious in defeat.
"I congratulate France on their title," he said in a news conference. "We played well in the first 20 minutes, we controlled the game. Then there was an own goal from a set play.
"We came back to life, dominated and then the penalty was given. Please don't take this as me saying something bad about the referee. I just shared my way of thinking. Nothing beyond that.
"I have to congratulate my players - it was maybe the best game we played in these championships. We controlled the match but we conceded. Against such a strong side as France you must not make mistakes.
Modric was unable to help his team over the line (REUTERS) "At 4-1 down, I was not defeated. This is life, we have to accept it as it is. I think overall Croatia played a great tournament and showed its strength.
"I would like to thank all my players for what they've done. I am proud for my players, my team and my country."
Croatia captain Luka Modric produced another impressive performance in defeat at the Luzhniki Stadium and was recognised after the match as the World Cup's best player with the Fifa Golden Ball award.
"We are happy for Luka Modric to have won the Golden Ball," Dalic added. "He did the lion's share of work in our play."
Modric's midfield partner Ivan Rakitic echoed Dalic's sentiments, while arguing that fortune smiled on France on the day.
"We were the better team in the first half, we were attacking, but we were unlucky," he insisted. "They scored four goals from their three shots on goal.
"But I congratulate France, they deserved it."
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