Football World Cup final: VAR penalty gives France 2-1 halftime lead over Croatia

France's Antoine Griezmann celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal. Photo / AP

Antoine Griezmann has given France a 2-1 lead over Croatia at halftime with a penalty after the first call made using a video review in a World Cup final.

Griezmann hit the ball hard and left as Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic jumped the other way in the 38th minute.

The spot-kick was given after the ball bounced off the arm of Croatia's Ivan Perisic at a corner before hitting his leg and going out of play. Perisic had scored for Croatia to level the game at 1-1 in the 28th minute.

There was a break of about 90 seconds as referee Nestor Pitana discussed the call with his video assistants and reviewed the footage.

France opening the scoring with the first real chance of the final as Mario Mandzukic headed a free kick into his own net.

Griezmann swung the free kick into a mass of French and Croatian players and Mandzukic diverted the ball into the net, just past goalkeeper Danijel Subasic's outstretched hand in the 18th minute.

It was the 12th own goal of the World Cup, an all-time record, and the first ever in a World Cup final.

It was the first goal in regulation in a World Cup final since 2006 — the 2010 and 2014 finals were both extra time 1-0 results.

Croatia then leveled from Ivan Perisic in the 28th minute.

Domagoj Vida got the ball at a free kick and passed it back to Perisic on the edge of the area. The winger controlled the ball with his right foot and used his left to fire it past French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

It's the third goal in seven games for Perisic and the first goal France has conceded since its 4-3 win over Argentina in the round of 16.