BASTILLE Day was yesterday but there is every chance the Champs Elysees will be hosting an even bigger national celebration later today. France wear the look of strong favourites going into the World Cup decider.

That might seem harsh on Croatia but wearing the underdog tag yet again is unlikely to bother them in the slightest. In fact, the men from the Balkans drew immense motivation from such a description and other perceived English media slights on Wednesday ahead of the semi-final.

As part of my commentary work for Fox Sports these past few weeks, I’ve covered both countries and believe they have the capacity to produce a final befitting what has been a high-level tournament.

France, on talent alone, were always likely to figure prominently at this World Cup. One of the youngest squads of any in Russia, yet with 14 holdovers from Euro 2016, they did have a point to prove.

Their final loss on home soil at Portugal’s hands two years ago in the European Championships was painful and took a long time to digest.

That they have come back more resilient than ever says much about the collective spirit forged by Didier Deschamps and his lieutenant Guy Stephan.

France are helped by having on-field artists and strategists such as Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba but you also need soldiers. Deschamps, the ultimate football general, knows better than most how to deploy his troops and get them thinking and working as a formidable battalion.

Not many were predicting a Croatian visit to the final before a ball was kicked last month. Indeed, as gifted as their players undoubtedly are, it was no sure thing they would escape from a potentially difficult group containing Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria. Yet Croatia did much more than that, winning all three matches, thanks to an eye-catching midfield guided by the graceful Luka Modric and an attack possessing pace and considerable know-how.

The knockout-stage wins on penalties against Denmark and Russia were more dilatory in nature but mental fortitude allied to smooth passing came to the fore in the semi-final. Croatia might understandably be tired after their recent exertions but they cannot be dismissed.

There is something endearingly haphazard about Croatia and it was evident before the penalty competition against Russia. Complete chaos reigned, Modric seemingly uncertain as to whether they should take the first penalty upon winning the toss. Keep in mind their coach Zlatko Dalic was only appointed just hours prior to the last qualifier against Ukraine, before guiding them through the play-off win over Greece. He was a relatively obscure choice in his own country.

France have the esteemed Clairefontaine academy and well-established youth systems at Ligue 1 clubs. Croatia have no such national plan and limited state-of-the-art training facilities, just astonishingly skilful footballers in a nation of

4.5 million.

So how will this play out? France are poster boys for the new mantra that possession in itself means very little. In the round-of-16 victory against Argentina they had the ball only 40 per cent of the time yet still prevailed 4-3. There is a clear defensive structure and a preference for scoring first and then waiting for the lightning counter-attack, led by the pacy and productive Kylian Mbappe.

The spine of the side has a wonderfully solid appearance with Samuel Umtiti next to the previously underrated Raphael Varane. Ngolo Kante remains the best exponent of the sitting midfield art in world football. He gives Pogba and Griezmann in particular the license to provide France with that extra dazzle needed to win matches.

If there are weaknesses, it can be argued that full-backs Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez leave gaps which can be exploited. Such negligence will be grist to the Ivan Perisic/Ante Rebic mill on Croatia’s flanks. The midfield battle will be fascinating with Modric and Ivan Rakitic, the Real Madrid-Barcelona alliance, trying to outwit Kante, Pogba and Blaise Matuidi.

I have long been a huge admirer of Mario Mandzukic, a tall and clever footballer for so many years. Part of me visualises Mandzukic doing what he did on Wednesday and netting the winner.

More likely though is another magical Mbappe moment, giving France their second World Cup crown. It will not surprise me if Croatia take it to extra time for a fourth match running. But France, well-oiled, better rested and beautifully balanced, get the nod.

HAVING commentated on every England game except the semi-final, I am sure in the fullness of time, the English public will accentuate the positive and fondly remember the summer of 2018.

No one can deny that Gareth Southgate’s team, as well as they played, finally met their match, and then some. England kept beating teams they were better than on paper. In Croatia they met a side with more footballing wit and wisdom.

Expectations were modest going to Russia and only by the time of the last eight did the “England hopes” sentiment morph into the old, less likeable “England expects” in some quarters.

Southgate was the perfect ambassador for this new-look squad. Teamwork was at the forefront of it all, rather than egos and individuals. The manager has learned that Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, Kieran Trippier, John Stones and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, amongst others, are well equipped to handle the demands of a major competition.

In time, there will be a further sprinkling of players from the 2017 World Under-20 and Under-17 championship successes with the ability to enrich and excite.

I have seen dissections of the semi-final with the analysis that England blew it against Croatia. In truth, they overachieved at this World Cup, helped massively by a favourable draw – although you can only play and try to beat what has been put in front of you.

England will almost certainly possess an even better team in two or four years’ time, yet might not record as high a finish. That’s football.