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WORLD CUP 2018 | The road to the final for Croatia, France

Published:Wednesday | July 11, 2018 | 12:00 AM

On Sunday, Croatia will make its first ever appearance in a World Cup final when it takes on 1998 champion France.

It will be an unpredictable clash for both teams who have each had an unbeaten run in the 2018 campaign.

How Croatia progressed through the rounds

Group stage

Match 1: June 16, 2018 at the Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Croatia – 2

Nigeria – 0

Match 2: June 21, 2018 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
Croatia – 3
Argentina – 0

Match 3: June 26, 2018 at the Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
Croatia – 2

Iceland – 1

Knockout round

Match 4: July 1, 2018 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
Croatia – 1

 Denmark – 1
*Croatia won 3-2 on penalties

Quarter final

Match 5: July 7, 2018 at the Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
Croatia – 2

Russia – 2
*Croatia won 4-3 on penalties

Semi-final

Match 6: 11 July 2018 at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Croatia – 2
England – 1
*Croatia won after extra time

READ: How the championship ended over the years

How France advanced to the final

After 20 years, France, will be looking to claim the championship for a second time.

This is how the French men have played their way into ultimate contention for the cup:

Group stage

Match 1: June 16, 2018 at the Kazan Arena, Kazan
France – 2

Australia – 1

Match 2: June 21, 2018 at Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg
France – 1

Peru – 0

Match 3: June 26, 2018 in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia
France – 0

Denmark – 0

Knock out round

Match 4: June 30, 2018 at the Kazan Arena,  Kazan
France – 4

Argentina – 3

Quarter-final

Match 5: July 6, 2018 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
France – 2

Uruguay – 0

Semi-final

Match 6: July 10, 2018 at the Krestovsky Stadium (Saint Petersburg Stadium), Saint Petersburg

France – 1
Belgium – 0

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