France vs Croatia match in numbers

France have the chance to join an elite club - that of multiple World Cup winners - when they take on Croatia in the final of the World Cup 2018 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow today. Only Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Uruguay have been crowned world champions on more than one occasion. But should France falter at the final hurdle, just as they did at Euro 2016, Croatia will become only the ninth different country to lift the trophy. With a population of just 4.3m - a third the size of Moscow - they would also be the second smallest country to win it, behind Uruguay (1930 and 1950). The match is scheduled to start at 9:00pm in Bangladesh time. Let’s look at some interesting facts ahead of the thrilling final.

Head-to-head

1) France are unbeaten in their five previous games with Croatia, winning three times. They have met twice before at major tournaments.

2) The French came from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1 in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup thanks to an unlikely brace from Lilian Thuram. Those proved to be Thuram's only goals in his 142 caps.

3) The teams also drew 2-2 in the group stage at Euro 2004.

4) The only meeting since then was a goalless draw in a friendly at the Stade de France in March 2011.

France

1) The French are the sixth nation to reach three or more World Cup finals, following in the footsteps of Germany (eight), Brazil and Italy (both six), Argentina (five) and the Netherlands (three).

2) This will be France's sixth final at a major tournament (including three at the European Championship). They have won three of the previous five.

3) Three of France's four goals in World Cup finals have come from set-pieces (two from corners, one from a penalty).

4) Three of France's five goalscorers at this World Cup have been defenders (Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti).

5) The last time three French defenders scored at a World Cup was in 1998, when they lifted the trophy.

6) Excluding shootouts, France have lost just one of their last 14 knockout games at the World Cup (W11, D2). That defeat was their 1-0 loss to Germany in the 2014 quarter-finals.

7) Didier Deschamps is looking to become the third man to win the World Cup as a player and as head coach, after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer. He's won 73% of his games at the World Cup (eight out of 11).

8) France have trailed for just nine minutes and 12 seconds at this World Cup, while Croatia have been behind in all three of their knockout matches.

9) None of Olivier Giroud's 13 shots at this World Cup have been on target. Since 1966, no player has had more attempts at a World Cup without directing at least one on target.

10) Kylian Mbappe could become only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, after Pele. His tally of three goals already makes him the highest scoring teen since Pele netted six in 1958.

11) Antoine Griezmann has scored or assisted 11 goals in nine knockout games at major tournaments (World Cup and European Championship). That is more than any other French player in the last 50 years, ahead of Zinedine Zidane (eight) and Michel Platini (six).

Croatia

1) Croatia are the 13th different nation to reach a World Cup final.

2) The previous two first-time finalists both won the tournament (France in 1998 and Spain in 2010).

3) Croatia are the first team to have reached the World Cup final despite trailing in all three of their knockout games.

4) The Croats have played extra time in their last three matches and could become the first team in World Cup history to play extra time in four matches at a single tournament.

5) Croatia have scored 12 goals and have had eight different goalscorers (excluding own goals) - only Belgium boast higher figures (14 goals and nine goalscorers, prior to the third-place play-off).

6) They have scored in their last 10 World Cup games, since a 0-0 draw with Japan in 2006.

7) Four of the five goals Croatia have conceded in Russia have come from set-pieces. They've conceded from a penalty, a throw-in, an indirect free-kick and a direct free-kick.

8) Croatia have conceded more fouls (99) and received more yellow cards (14) than any other side at this World Cup.

9) Ivan Perisic has been involved in 10 goals at major tournaments (six goals and four assists), the joint-most by a Croat, level with Davor Suker (nine goals and one assist).

10) Luka Modric has created 16 chances at this World Cup, twice as many as any of his team-mates.