#everything&039

Media playback is not supported on this device

It was the final which had everything – controversial decisions, a pitch invasion, the first World Cup final own goal, its first teenage goalscorer since Pele, and a comedy goalkeeping error.

France beat Croatia 4-2[1] to be crowned world champions for the second time and cap a truly remarkable event.

Indeed the final was really the tournament in microcosm.

A high-scoring affair

Media playback is not supported on this device

World Cup finals have been low-scoring and tense of late – this game equalled the combined total of goals scored in the previous four. The last final to have more than two goals was in 1998 – the other time Les Bleus won the World Cup.

It was also the joint highest goal tally in a final since 1958, when Brazil beat Sweden 5-2.

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand said on BBC One: “Sometimes these games can peter out to being boring chess matches but this was anything but. Croatia deserve credit for the way they attacked France.”

Ex-England captain Alan Shearer said: “As fortunate as they were to be leading at half-time, France totally changed in the second period. They found a way to get Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe into the game and they tightened up at the back.

“Congratulations to them, they have been magnificent.”

The tournament had 169 goals – two short of the record 171 set four years ago in Brazil and in France ’98.

France win is ‘supreme coronation’ – Deschamps[2]

Check out the player ratings from the World Cup final[3]

Kane wins Golden Boot, Modric is player of tournament[4]

We have to mention the VAR

Media playback is not supported on this device

This is the first World Cup to use video assistant referees (VAR). After being utilised regularly in the group stages, it went quiet for most of the knockout stage. But it was used in the final to award France a penalty.

When Samuel Umtiti flicked a corner towards Ivan Perisic’s hand, the referee did not award anything. But, after a lengthy discussion with the video assistant referee, he went to watch it on a screen – and awarded a penalty.

While many were angry with VAR, it should be noted it was referee Nestor Pitana’s decision to award the penalty, after viewing the incident several times. Antoine Griezmann scored.

The BBC One pundits all thought it was the wrong decision,[5] though former England winger Chris Waddle disagreed.

Shearer said at half-time it was a “ridiculous decision”.

“It will be such a shame if this game is decided on that decision,” he said. “That is not a deliberate handball and it shouldn’t be a penalty. The referee didn’t give it initially, but then he is certain he has made an error after going to the VAR? I don’t agree with it.”

Ferdinand said: “Two bad decisions have turned the game on its head. It is too close for Ivan Perisic to react. He is not going to deliberately handle the ball.

“The referee took so long so he can’t be certain. He can’t! It becomes almost laughable. He can’t be clear.”

Former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann said: “When you are not sure, you don’t give it. It is the wrong decision.”

Griezmann’s goal was the 22nd penalty scored at this World Cup – a record. It was the 29th spot-kick taken – the highest since the stats were first recorded in 1966.

Media playback is not supported on this device

First own goal in a final

Media playback is not supported on this device

This has been the World Cup of own goals – 12 in total. So it was only right that the final had one.

Mario Mandzukic’s header from Griezmann’s free-kick – which made it 1-0 to France – made him the first player to score an own goal in a World Cup final.

That doubled the record for own goals in a tournament. It also means there were twice as many own goals as top scorer Harry Kane managed in Russia.

After that goal, Waddle – on BBC Radio 5 live – described Russia 2018 as the “tournament of set-pieces”.

He had a point – 73 of the 169 goals scored came from set-piece situations (43%) – the highest ratio since those stats started in 1966.

First teenage goalscorer since Pele

Media playback is not supported on this device

Kylian Mbappe was only the third teenager to play in a World Cup final – and became the second to score in one, following Pele’s double against Sweden in 1958.

Earlier in the tournament, Mbappe put in perhaps the most electrifying performance of the tournament with two goals against Argentina – which made him the first teenager to score twice in any World Cup game since the Brazil legend.

It might be hard to argue it was a true breakthrough tournament for a player who has cost Paris St-Germain £159m – but the 19-year-old finished with four goals and was unsurprisingly named young player of the tournament.

The BBC pundits feel he might be the man to end Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s combined 10-year hold on the Ballon d’Or, the award for the world’s best player.

“He is the guy who will be standing up on that Ballon d’Or podium in years to come. Easy,” said Ferdinand.[6]

“To come to a World Cup with all eyes on you, and to do this at 19 years old… what a great strike. It’s the intelligence and the decision-making. Kylian Mbappe makes the right decisions so often. There is already maturity beyond his years.”

Klinsmann said: “There is so much to come down the road. He is shaking up the market. With Ronaldo moving and Neymar being linked with other clubs, where is it finishing with this kid?

“What impresses me most is that he is already a part of the French team that is like a family. He looks so comfortable in this side, like he has been playing in it for 10 years.”

Bizarre error

Media playback is not supported on this device

In a season during which Loris Karius made possibly the worst goalkeeping mistake in a Champions League final[7] to gift Karim Benzema a goal, Hugo Lloris had a ‘hold my beer’ moment at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Samuel Umtiti passed the ball back to his captain, the Tottenham goalkeeper. Lloris casually tried to step around Mandzukic – only managing to kick the ball off the striker and into his own net.

“What on earth is Hugo Lloris doing? He is in a World Cup final and he’s been punished for taking liberties,” said BBC One co-commentator Martin Keown.

It was probably the biggest mistake of the World Cup, although Germany keeper Manuel Neuer losing the ball 80 yards from goal as South Korea scored a second to knock them out in the group stages will live long in the memory.

The goal did give Mandzukic a couple of claims to fame. He is only the second player to score a goal and an own goal in a World Cup game – and the first in a final.

And he is just the fifth player to score in a World Cup and European Cup or Champions League finals – the first since Zinedine Zidane.

Pitch invasion

<!–

There had been worries about Russia hosting the tournament, with concerns about the potential for racism, hooliganism, and gay fans being at risk of violence.

But it appeared to go off smoothly.

Until, that is, a pitch invasion in the final which Russian punk rock group Pussy Riot claimed responsibility for, saying they were protesting against various political issue in the country.

Staff acted quickly to get them off the pitch – though several had confrontations with players on both sides.

References

^ France beat Croatia 4-2 (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ France win is ‘supreme coronation’ – Deschamps (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Check out the player ratings from the World Cup final (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Kane wins Golden Boot, Modric is player of tournament (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ all thought it was the wrong decision, (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ said Ferdinand. (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ worst goalkeeping mistake in a Champions League final (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Football

England v Panama (13:00 BST on Sunday, 24 June)

How to follow:

Watch live on BBC One and the BBC Sport website, listen on BBC Radio 5 live

If the leaked line-up is correct, Ruben Loftus-Cheek will make his first competitive start for England against Panama on Sunday – and I know he will be ready.

Ruben is someone I know really well from when he was coming through the youth ranks at Chelsea. He is 22 now, but he probably came on to my radar when he was 15 because he was so highly spoken of.

He would occasionally come and train with us in the first team from the age of 16, because he was that advanced.

Straight away he made an impression because of his physical attributes, but he knew how to play too – he had great ability and even then he could drift past people on the ball.

He does that even better now, with his pace and power when he is running at you, which makes him different from a lot of modern-day midfield players – and puts a fear into the opposition that they do not usually have.

That is what he will bring to England’s midfield against Panama, and his versatility makes him even more unique.

Ruben is often used as an advanced midfielder, but he is neat and tidy enough on the ball to play as a link-man deeper in midfield.

He can do both sides of the game, which makes him a great weapon for England boss Gareth Southgate to have, because having him on the pitch does not compromise the team in attack or defence.

Your starting XI to take on Panama[1]

The film star defender leading England’s challenge[2]

Match preview: England v Panama[3]

England ‘notes’ no advantage, says Panama boss[4]

Six key questions ahead of England v Panama[5]

‘I told him he can dominate games from start to finish’

When he linked up with the Chelsea first team as a kid, Ruben was very quiet and always very respectful. His attitude and work ethic was first class, which I love to see.

<!–

I have read that he studied my game a lot when he was younger but he did not approach me for any advice.

He trained with us, and I tried to help him where I could, but we did not have many conversations that I can recall.

But earlier this year, during his loan spell at Crystal Palace, he trained with Chelsea to get fit after an ankle injury and took part in a training session I was holding with the Blues’ Under-16 side while I was getting my coaching qualifications.

We had a good chat, probably the first proper chat I’d had with him, and spoke about his game, how he feels and his progress so far – which I have been delighted to see.

I told him then that he was doing brilliantly but I thought he could do so much more because he has got so many great attributes – I said he has everything in his game to go right to the top.

He is on his way there now, and with the ability he has got, he can dominate games from start to finish.

‘On paper he does not have a weakness’

We have already seen from his performance on his England debut against Germany in November that Ruben is not fazed by the big occasion – he was the man of the match.

He believes in his ability, which is a big gift when you are trying to establish yourself at international level. You can see that by the way he picks the ball up and runs at people so much.

What he will have to deal with now is expectancy. People have been calling for him to be in the England team, and to come back to Chelsea – quite rightly so on both counts.

But now he has to really produce. What I want to see him do if he starts against Panama is show his best form and really grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

I am not overstating the part he could play for England on Sunday, because he can do everything – on paper he does not have a weakness.

‘The next step is for him to make a drastic impact against Panama’

The next step for him is to make a drastic impact on this kind of game, and by that I mean getting goals, and making assists.

Media playback is not supported on this device

For that to happen he needs a bit more ruthlessness, which is probably the final thing to add to his game – Ruben is a nice boy, but he has to be maybe not always quite so nice.

I guess the one blot on his character is that he once said he would pick Steven Gerrard over me in his all-time XI – but I think I can forgive him for that!

If it was anyone else I might get upset, but it is Stevie G, so that is fair enough.

Being serious, though, it is great to hear him talk about modelling his game on me, Steven, and Paul Scholes.

That is what I did as a young player, when I looked at people like Paul Gascoigne and Bryan Robson and tried to take the bits I could from them and link them into my own game. I was really pleased when I heard that he had done the same.

‘No need to jeopardise England feel-good factor’

We don’t know yet whether the England team that was accidentally revealed by assistant manager Steve Holland will be the one that starts against Panama, but I don’t think it should have been leaked in the first place.

I have been at plenty of major tournaments so I know how these things work – I am not surprised it happened.

But I just think that, as a nation, there is a really good feeling around the England team at the moment, and there was no need to jeopardise that.

The media have been crying out for more access and a better connection to the players, and they have got that.

Then something like this happens, which is quite a delicate situation. It would have been quite easy to keep a lid on it because it is a time when you want to be working together on these things, but that did not happen.

At the same time, we probably should not over-react – this sounds bad, but it is a group game against Panama. It would be different if it was a quarter-final against Brazil and the media did something like that which did not help England’s chances.

‘From Russia to Pride Park – Derby is my priority now’

<!–

I am very confident that we will beat Panama, and I do not always feel that way before an England game.

I just think that while Panama always put in a lot of effort, it is going to be very difficult for them to defend for 90 minutes against a team of England’s quality.

This game is the last one I am working on with the BBC before I go back to England, and I have really enjoyed my time in Russia.

I had committed to being a pundit before I became Derby manager, and I am not a man to go back on my word.

It has been a great opportunity for me to be out here watching games, in this kind of atmosphere, and I have absolutely loved it.

But I have to cut my time here slightly short because of the job in hand, which is a very important one – to get Derby ready for the new season.

It is not a part-time role, it is the exact opposite of that, and I have been working on it while I have been out here anyway in terms of our preparations for pre-season.

When I go back, I have got to get right into it, though – and I am looking forward to doing that as well.

Frank Lampard was speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan in Moscow.

References

^ Your starting XI to take on Panama (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ The film star defender leading England’s challenge (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Match preview: England v Panama (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ England ‘notes’ no advantage, says Panama boss (www.bbc.co.uk)

^ Six key questions ahead of England v Panama (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Football

Media playback is not supported on this device

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says a “few idiots killed everything” by attacking Manchester City’s team bus at Anfield on Wednesday.

Cans, bottles and flares were thrown at the bus as a crowd gathered before the 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg loss to Liverpool.

Merseyside Police are investigating the attack, while Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings.

No players or staff were injured but two police officers were hurt.

Before the match, Merseyside Police had issued a statement saying the two team coaches would “not be taking their usual route” because of “building works and to ensure the safety of fans”.

Liverpool also shared the statement and asked their supporters “to gather to show their passion and support for the team… in a friendly, respectful and considerate manner”.

“I have to say apologies again for how things happened before the game,” said Klopp, ahead of Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton (12:30 BST).

“It’s so strange,” said Klopp. “You go with your own bus through the crowd and it feels fantastic and it’s great. It’s support, it’s passion. We come into the stadium and the first thing I heard was they had smashed the bus of Manchester City and it kills everything

“You can’t feel it anymore. You give everyone the opportunity to do something good and because of a few idiots it might never happen again.”

More to follow.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

BBC Sport – Football

Moving to America was a gamble for Claire Emslie who knew it meant missing out on playing for her country at Euro 2017..

But it paid off for the 24-year-old, who after four years studying in the United States is now at the heart of Scotland’s push towards the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

And the winger is determined not to miss another moment.

“It was hard to take,” she told BBC Scotland. “You get a taste of it after always dreaming of playing for your national team.

“I was told if I went to America I wouldn’t play and that was the risk I took.

“I’m really glad and lucky that [Scotland head coach] Shelley [Kerr] has given me a chance since she took over the national team.”

Emslie made her senior international debut against Iceland in 2013, having played up to under-19 level.

Accepting a scholarship to study exercise physiology at Florida Atlantics University ruled out chances of selection so the Penicuik player had to wait until 2017 for her second cap.

Mixed feelings over Euros

<!–

Since then the Manchester City forward has embedded herself in new head coach Kerr’s squad and featured in all seven international fixtures, scoring in their 5-0 qualifying win over Albania in October.

And she hopes to feature in the Scotland squad all the way to next summer’s World Cup in France, having watched her team-mates at their first major finals from afar.

“It was hard,” she admits in relation to not being part of last year’s European Championship in Netherlands. “I was really happy to the see girls and a few of my best friends like Chloe [Arthur] and Caroline [Weir].”

“I was really jealous that they were away and I wasn’t,” she half-joked.

“But it helped motivate me to train hard over the summer, plus since moving to Man City.”

Now back in the fold she has been part of the side that twice beat New Zealand – ranked four places higher than the Scots – in Spain this month.

Emslie feels it has buoyed Scotland before their upcoming qualifying double-header against Switzerland in Schaffhausen (5 April) and Poland back home in Paisley (10 April), with Glasgow City striker Abbi Grant and Durham Women forward Zoe Ness providing competition for places in Kerr’s squad.

“It feels amazing, really exciting,” said Emslie.

“Shelley is really humble and keeps us focussed on doing the right things, all the little small things that add up in these qualifiers.

“You never expect to play a game, you just have to work hard every day at training and being in that competitive environment helps everyone.”

<!–

Quadruple ambitions

Qualification to the world’s biggest tournament is not all Emslie will have on her plate. A serious threat on the ball, she will play an important role in her club’s bid to win four competitions this season.

Manchester City are chasing leaders Chelsea Ladies in Women’s Super League 1. City also face Arsenal in the Continental Cup final on Wednesday and then take on Sunderland in Sunday’s FA Cup last-eight tie.

And Women’s Champions League quarter-finals against Sweden’s Linkopings follow later this month.

“I want to win everything,” enthused Emslie. “There’s a lot out there to work for.”

The former Hibernian Ladies and Bristol winger plays at City’s academy stadium alongside Scotland team-mates Jennifer Beattie and Jane Ross but admits she still has to pinch herself sometimes, walking the same halls as Pep Guardiola and some of the world’s top male and female footballers.

“It’s such a professional environment and I’m playing with some top class players who I’m learning a lot from on and off the pitch,” she explained.

“We play the same style of football so it’s good with the video analysis we watch the men’s clips as well to see how we want to play and what to do in certain situations.”

And she quickly adds: “It’s been hard, the hardest six months of football I’ve had in terms of training intensity and games. But I’m really enjoying it, I love it, and I’ve really improved since I’ve been there.”

<!–

It all started for Emslie kicking a ball about on the sidelines of her brother’s game where a coach spotted her potential and gave her an opportunity.

But she could never have dreamed Champions League and potential World Cup football lay in her future. After all, she says, she plays because it is fun.

“A couple of years ago when I was graduating university I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue football as a career,” she added.

“Since then I’m lucky I’ve been given opportunities at Bristol and Scotland and Manchester City so to play in the Champions League has been the highlight for me so far.

“But there’s a lot more still to come.”

BBC Sport – Scottish