Expect a little bit of everything in Sunday’s World Cup final, the culmination of a tournament full of twists and turns. At one end of the field at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium: France, the favourite playing in its third Cup final, including a win on home soil in 1998. Coach Didier Deschamps was the captain that day in a 3-0 win over Brazil. The French have improved with every game. At the other end: Croatia, the dark horse making its first final appearance. In 1998, the Croatians lost 2-1 to France in the semis. Croatia came out of the gates strong, winning every group-stage game, but has gone to extra time or penalties and survived every step of the way in the knockout stage. Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic has used that 1998 defeat as motivation.

Players to watch: MBAPPE/MODRIC

Kylian Mbappe, the 19-year-old French forward, has outperformed high-profile teammates Antoine Griezmann,

Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté , scoring three goals along the way. Luka Modric, the 32-year-old Croatian midfielder, has pulled the strings on offence and scored twice while covering more ground than anyone else at the World Cup: 63 kilometres, according to FIFA. The one who performs better come Sunday will walk away with the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament MVP, along with the Cup itself. (www.thestar.com)