World Cup

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Attendance: 78,011

World Cup | Final

Jul 15, 2018 at 4pm UK

France
4-2
Croatia

Mandzukic (18' og.), Griezmann (38' pen.), Pogba (59'), Mbappe (65')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Perisic (28'), Mandzukic (69')

Zlatko Dalic: 'Fatigue will not be an issue'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 14 July 2018

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic insists that he is not concerned about the fatigue of his players entering Sunday's 2018 World Cup with France.

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has insisted that he is not concerned about the fatigue of his players entering Sunday's 2018 World Cup final with France.

Croatia have played extra time in each of their three knockout matches at this summer's competition - including last week's semi-final with England, where Mario Mandzukic came up with the winner.

Dalic, however, has claimed that players who are not "100% fit" will not start the clash with Les Bleus.

"Tomorrow is the World Cup final. Simply, the players know what that is. One thing that brings me happiness is that all my players tell me whether they are not 100% fit," Dalic told reporters.

"We have a such a good relationship that they will concede and say 'I am not fit, I'm going to miss the final'. They know what is at stake in the final, how great it is to play in the final. But, if they will be unable to give their all, they will tell us. I expect them to do so, they need to have such an attitude.

"We do not insist on practice sessions. We have nothing to practise. We need relaxation and rest to regain freshness for tomorrow. We have some minor injuries, minor problems.

"I hope we will overcome those today and that all my players will be ready to play in the final. If they're not, we have great players on the bench, who are raring to go. I'm not worried. I do not have any problems in that respect."

Croatia beat Denmark, Russia and England in the knockout rounds to progress to this year's final in Moscow.