Luka Modric
Luka Modric is a contender for the player of the tournament at the 2018 World Cup. In this picture, Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric celebrates after winning the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match between Croatia and England at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 11, 2018. MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

France made it to their third World Cup final in the last 10 years after having lived up to the billing of being one of the pre-tournament favorites. On paper, they possess arguably the best team of any other nation at the tournament.

Didier Deschamps’ team will start the World Cup final as the favorites as they take on Croatia, who have made the summit clash for the first time. Their best result until they beat England in the semi-finals was a last four appearance at the 1998 World Cup when they lost to Sunday’s opponents.

The final takes place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow with kick-off in the United States scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT. The closing ceremony will take place before the match with movie star Will Smith expected to be one of the performers.

The 1998 winners have performed admirably throughout the tournaments and seen off some good teams to make the summit clash. They topped Group C that included Denmark, Peru and Australia after which they saw off another pre-tournament favorite Argentina in a thrilling encounter that ended 4-3 in the round of 16.

Uruguay awaited them in the quarter-finals after the South American team dispatched Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal. They beat Oscar Tabarez’s team 2-0 to set up a last four clash against Belgium, which they won 1-0.

Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann is key if France are to win the 2018 World Cup. In this picture, Griezmann (L) and France's midfielder Blaise Matuidi arrive for a press conference in Istra on July 13, 2018, two days before the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia. FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images

The 2018 tournament in Russia has been one with full of surprises — there will be very few (even counting the Croatian fans) that expected Zlatko Dalic’s team to make the final. But his team does possess proven quality, which they displayed when they beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina 3-0 in the Group stages.

Defending champions Germany were dumped out in the round robin stage, while Spain succumbed to hosts Russia in the round of 16. Brazil, the pre-tournament favorite, fell to Belgium in the quarter-finals.

Despite the top teams not making the latter stages, the tournament did not fail to entertain. The matches were full of goals and excitement, and the hope is the final lives up to the rest of the tournament.

Where to watch

Kick-off is at 11 a.m. EDT with live TV coverage of France vs Croatia will be available on Fox Sports, while the Spanish viewers can catch the match on Telemundo.

The matches can be streamed live on Fubo TV.

Key Players

France — Antoine Griezmann is undoubtedly the talisman of the French team despite the entire team making sizeable contributions to help them make the final. N’Golo Kante has been supreme in midfield, while Raphael Varane and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris have been impressive in defense.

Croatia — Luka Modric has been the star in Croatia’s rise to the summit clash and has been ably backed up by Ivan Perisic and Ivan Rakitic. The Real Madrid midfielder is a contender for the Golden Ball.