The ESPN FC crew debates whether the VAR handball penalty kick decision against Ivan Perisic in France’s 4-2 win over Croatia in the 2018 World Cup final was the right call.
✔ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
✔ Subscribe to ESPN FC on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoESPNFC
✔ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔ Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
ESPN on Social Media:
► Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/espn
► Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/espn
► Follow on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/espn
Visit ESPN on YouTube to get up-to-the-minute sports news coverage, scores, highlights and commentary for NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, College Football, NCAA Basketball, soccer and more.
More on ESPN.com: http://www.espn.com

34 Comments
if only that ref made the right call…. whole game wouldve been different. croatia had so much momentum
I know this was 2 years ago, but I came back to this because our television is playing all the wc games again during isolation… I wanted to go back to the France game because I remember that the judging wasn't fair but I'm not going to talk about France now I'm going to talk about the amount of comments saying how yes, it was unfair, but we would have lost anyways because we are the weaker/avarage team and stood no chance of winning? I'm sorry but Croatia didn't find itself in the WC finals by accident, we worked and earned our way there and even game statistics say that we were the better team in almost every aspect in the finals?? It just makes me so mad. Please be respectful. I think that the case with the first two goals is clear. 🇭🇷
Title stolen, CROATIA deserves title of World Cup. But all of uš saw criminal activities of FIFA and Nestor Pitana. No penalty, only people witouth brain can approve that kind of penalty. Everybody is talking only about penalty, but first fr. goal is ten times more redicilous referee “mistake”. We all know it is not mistake…(tripple, no foul on Grizz., offside, and foul on Mandžukić)😉…Grizmann acting that Brozovic fouled him, but distance between them al least one meter, and from that free kick came first fr. goal. We scored soon for 1:1, playing much, much better than frenchies(africa united), and then again Nestor Pitana and FIFA….
First goal was a dive from Griesmann ,second goal was NOT a penalty.
In the first half France had 1 shot and 2 goals. Pitana why do you hate Croatia so much?
So I'm watching this whole thing again 2 years later. And it's unfortunate that it was rewarded at that time as croatia did build good momentum. And it's unfortunate that the ref gave it while in doubt.
This was my least favourite final. Simply because the ref wasn't up for it and griezman got away with murder and the penalty was extremely harsh.
I think that Frances 2 first goals were probably came from the ref not making the right decisions. It doesn't mean that Croatia would have won, but it means that they could have. France also still could've won without those calls. I also think that France would have rathered win it without any controversy, but these decisions changed that.
No it was clearly a handball
For me, that is right decision. Ok, it wasn't clear and obvious error by pitana, but it was missed incident.
So VAR has been activated.
But free kick before first goal was shameful, clar dive by griezmann
Fixed and ruined the rest of the game.
France were gifted the cup! Dodgy penalty against Australia as well. Fifa are amateurs.
Bruh it dosent sems to much but you know what is 2 goals ( free goals)
The arm was extended away from his body when he touched the ball, so it's a penalty. Case closed.
There's no "intentional" or "unintentional" BS. This was never the rule. It always a matter of either the arm was extended or not
Cost them the game
France deserved to win, case close 🙂 all the bullshits we can read on here that's crazy, should we put a free kick next to the goal post then? :)))
It was a handball ! But Griezman free kick should’ve not been a free kick which would’ve left the game at 3-2 or u never know Croatia by that score will have hope and keep fighting and boom could’ve become World Cup winners
Griezmann's dive and noexisting penalty changed the outcome of entire match. Croatia was much better until that point.
Handball is handball! Idiots! No excuse! There is 2 sides not 1 side. For 1 lie stop making many lies!
Money France fifa football vs Croatia football.
– how much money do france fifa football pay for CLUBS, Famous players, fifa world monthly, yearly? Very alot….
So france fifa football win for 💰.
I think VAR should be rewatched as many times as it needs to be, but in real time speed, slow mo is just taking it out of context.
If this was in Euro 2020, this wouldn't be a penalty
Nestor Pitana, disgusting.
This Penalty is a scam.
It wasn;t a faul before France 1st goal and it wasn;t a penalty for France 2nd goal.MAFIFA
Lots of stuff were not in our favor rakitič was sick subasič was hurt the referee was unfair im not denying that france is a good team but i know croatia could have won if that pen wasnt given
I don't like France but unfortunately the penalty decision was correct it doesn't look like it's fair at normal speed but if you play it in slow-motion you will see it was the right decision
Croatia robbed mate. Simple!
Clear penalty even tho I'm Croatian I think that is a clear penalty
I watched this game at a (idk how to describe) but it’s with a lot of other Croatians… so many boos there because everyone knew the ref was blind like any other sport!
The french will say it is all day long because ofc, Everyone else not so much maybe it is maybe it isnt'? Croatia will say no lol.
Griezman dove and they scored off that too
Fifa never wanted Croatia in the final let alone let them win,,, total corruption
Its all about moneyyy,its not so attractive for Croatia to win,France is mega country with bigger names and more fame means more money…Fifa knows it