17 Jul 2018

France was on Sunday crowned the 2018 FIFA World Cup champions after a 4-2 triumph over Croatia.

On the day, Multichoice, from whose Digital Satellite Television (DStv) product and SuperSport channels organised the viewing of the final in Phakalane where a number of Multichoice customers were invited.

Amongst those invited was former national team icon, Dipsy Selolwane and a small media contingent, who saw Mario Mandzukic score for both sides-first nodding in an own goal for France in the first half, then for his Croatian side in the second period.

Croatia looked in the ascendancy with good possession football until the 18th Mandzukic faux pas and a contentious 38th-minute Antoinne Griezman penalty which gave France a 2-1 halftime lead, with Ivan Perisic having earlier restored parity for the East Europeans in the 28th minute.

Second half Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba goals won it as a contest for France; by the time Mandzukic located the right goal posts, it was scant consolation for the former Yugoslavia.
Multichoice further organised a ‘DStv Fan Analysis’ WhatsApp group, made up of football followers from across the continent.

Zambian football legend, Kalusha Bwalya led the discussion, stating prior to kick off that despite the merits of the French side, he felt Croatia would win on the day. This was not a popular view with most of the fan analysts preferring

France, some even calling Les Bleus ‘an African team’ despite their players’ European loyalties betrayed by their pre-match passionate belting out of La Marseillaise, the French anthem composed in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle after a declaration of war by France against Austria.

But even in largely being unanimous in their support for the French, different opinions on team selection were expressed; one fan feeling that Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud must have nude pictures of the French coach and is only allowed to play lest he makes the nudes public.

In the end, King Kalu as Bwalya is affectionately known congratulated the French, stating that the quality of their individual stars had proved too much for a hard working Croatia side.

It proved a good experience. As the European continent won the World Cup for the fourth time in a row, France adding to the success of Italy (2006), Spain (2010), and Germany (2014), with Brazil in 2002 the last South American champions, Africa has never gone beyond the quarterfinals and in this tournament all five African sides knocked out in the group phase, it was clear more needs to be done to develop the game across the world.

For now, most of Africa joined the French in their celebrations. ENDS