World Cup, Russia 2018 - Croatia coach, Zlatko Dalic congratulates France

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic is gracious even in defeat as he said on Sunday that his team should be proud of what it has achieved at the 2018 World Cup and congratulated France on winning this summer's tournament.

Croatia finished runners-up at the 2018 World Cup after losing 4-2 to France in the final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.

"I congratulate France on their title. We played well in the first 20 minutes, we controlled the game. Then there was an own goal from a set play. We came back to life, dominated and then the penalty was given.

I have to congratulate my players, it was maybe the best game we played in these championships; we controlled the match but we conceded. Against such a strong side as France you must not make mistakes. We are a bit sad but we have to be proud as well for what we've done," Dalic said, as quoted by FIFA's website.