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')

Luka Modric: 'Croatia were the better team in World Cup final'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter

Published: July 16 2018 | 14:34

Last updated: July 17 2018 | 12:57

Luka Modric believes that Croatia were unfortunate to lose to France in the 2018 World Cup final after a couple of big calls went against them.

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has insisted that his side performed well against France and were unlucky to lose the World Cup final.

The Vatreni came unstuck in the second half after being hard done by in the opening 45 minutes, having seen a couple of key calls leading to French goals go against them.

Modric admits to being surprised by referee Nestor Pitana's decision to award Les Bleus a free kick in the buildup to their first goal, while also pointing to the penalty spot soon after - with the aid of VAR - when the ball hit Ivan Perisic's hand.

"Everyone has the same feeling that we played well," he told reporters after his side's 4-2 loss in Moscow. "I think we were the better team but sometimes better teams don't win.

"We were surprised when it was given, especially because the foul he gave for the first goal wasn't a foul in my opinion and then we recovered from that.

"We played well and played the best football and he gives a penalty to them. It kills you. It's not easy to keep coming back. But we tried, we fought until the end and we have to be proud of what we did and how we played. But in the end it wasn't enough to win it."

Despite suffering defeat in Sunday's final, Real Madrid maestro Modric was still crowned the Golden Ball winner.