Many were expecting a cagey World Cup final but, after half an hour, both France and Croatia had found the net and there was plenty of energy on display.
France took the lead after Mario Mandzukic got a hair to an Antoine Griezmann free-kick, which redirected the ball into the back of the Croatian net.
The goal was against the run of play and Croatia quickly busied themselves in pursuit of an equaliser.
And what an equaliser it was.
Shortly before the thirty minute mark, the ball broke to Ivan Perisic on the edge of the French area and, with impressive composure, he dragged the ball on to his left foot and let fly.
Hugo Lloris could only watch the ball sail past him as the Croatian winger sprinted to the corner flag to celebrate.
https://twitter.com/itvfootball/status/1018518482193969155
After being mobbed by his teammates, Perisic then pulled up one leg of his shorts and flexed his left quadriceps muscle as if to hammer home the point that he's got plenty of power in his left leg.
It reminded plenty of viewers of Cristiano Ronaldo's famous celebration when he found the net against Osasuna in the 2011/12 season with a driving effort from distance.
Was it a message from the Inter Milan star to the Juventus-bound Ronaldo? Or was it just a reminder of the traction engine of a left peg that Perisic has?
Either way, supporters adored it.
https://twitter.com/DRoantree/status/1018518186315141121
https://twitter.com/ElTaconDeDios/status/1018517800988626946
https://twitter.com/BadGuyNova/status/1018517732831133696
https://twitter.com/Paul__Dawkins/status/1018518801774710784
https://twitter.com/AbsoluteTadka/status/1018518610992685057
https://twitter.com/Keith_750/status/1018517905120645122
https://twitter.com/ooooohscaar_/status/1018517872266493952
https://twitter.com/K8Naby/status/1018517845767086080
https://twitter.com/WFC_Seb/status/1018518097739767808
