Will it be France or Croatia tonight? Fans the world over wait with bated breaths!

After 63 games filled with drama, sweat, blood and tears, there are just two teams remaining and one of them will be crowned the football world champions tonight.

Ever since the 2018 FIFA World Cup began last month, it has been filled with drama, intrigue, set-piece goals and surprise results.

Today’s final will be a repeat of the 1998 semifinal in France, which the hosts won. Vatreni will be out for revenge from their final four defeat against Les Bleus back in 1998, with the then debutants denied a place in a maiden final by Lilian Thuram’s only international goals.

France will be hoping their captain in the final that followed that semifinal victory just over 20 years ago is their good luck charm at the Luzhniki Stadium. 

Didier Deschamps could become only the third man after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer to lift the trophy as a player and coach, if he can replicate from the dugout the successful final he had against A Selecao in 1998.

Despite the deep connections to the past, these sides are very much living in the here and now. France were functional and firm against Belgium to see off the Red Devils 1-0 in Tuesday's semifinal while Croatia needed extra time — for the third consecutive game — to defeat England at the Luzhniki on Wednesday. 

Can Croatia go one better than their heroes of 1998 or will it be Deschamps’ day once again in world football’s biggest game? The globe will be watching, and impatiently waiting for an answer.