Finally, comes the day for France to reinstate from what they were rendered two years back in the final of Euro 2016, but this time in FIFA World Cup 2018 and against the most powerful underdogs, Croatia, who have just reached their first ever World Cup Final. The opponents are famous due to their strongest, unmatched midfield in the tournament and the same has helped them to maintain and restore their balance even against the sides like Argentina. This could cause Deschamps men struggle. Lets see how France can upset the Croatian midfield.
Forcing Croatia to overly concentrate
Like every time, Croatia will dominate their central presence against France as this is their favourite region to achieve balance. They have Brozovic in the defensive midfield, who is the base of Croatias zonal marking in the central region. With him, the Croats can safely form a pressing block at the active flank to isolate their opponent with the ball and recover from him. This defensive set up allows them to concentrate around the opponent with the ball in any region and win possession since they can shift the recovered ball to the centre to have it circulated to the more favourable side by the midfielders. The French, who initiate attack more through the flanks, are likely to be isolated there against Croatias centrally rooted defensive block.
But if we look at the positioning map of Croatia shown below, the defensive arrangement can leave gaps between the central region and the width, and often between the midfield and the central defence. France can use this defensive arrangement of Croatia in their favour by forcing the later to congest in the active region.
The role of Mbappe is highly important here which would force Croatia to leave such gaps. The 19-year-old is a young, agile, robust body endowed with a catastrophic speed and an extraordinary finishing talent.
His wide presence also mak
