WORLD CUP 2018: Didier Deschamps becomes the third ever to win World Cup as a player and as a manager

It is a tough task to win a World Cup once. Winning it twice is extremely tough. But winning it both as a player, and then manager, is improbable. Only two individuals in football history have lifted the World Cup as both player and manager.

But following France's 4-2 win the final of World Cup 2018, the number in the list becomes three. France head coach Didier Deschamps became the third ever individual to win the World Cup in two different roles.

He follows the likes of Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer in achieving this feat. 
 

Contrary to the pre-match talks, the final turned out to be a one-sided affair, with moments of controversies and brilliance.

The first goal came from a piece of good fortune. Antoine Griezmann's free kick in the box was deflected in his own net by Mario Mandzukic. Despite falling behind, Croatia didn't let their heads drop, and equalized through Ivan Perisic in the 28th minute.

Controversy struck the game in the 34th minute, when the referee, after consultation with VAR, awarded a penalty to France after Perisic had headed the ball into his own hand. Griezmann stepped up, and gave France the lead.

In the second half, France came out all guns blazing, and doubled their lead in the 59th minute. Paul Pogba scored a screamer from his left foot from the edge of the box to make it 4-1.

And matters turned worse for Croatia, when Mbappe scored a beauty from 20 yards out, and created history. There was a brief hint of return for Croatia after a Hugo Lloris blunder allowed Mandzukic to make it 4-2. 

But France held on, and lifted the World Cup for the second time. It proved to be a huge achievement for a team which struggled with controversy just eight years back, during the 2010 World Cup, when some of the national players revolted.