WATCH: Hugo Lloris suffers nightmare moment during final

With France leading 4-1 and coasting towards a second World Cup triumph in at the Luhzniki Stadium, Lloris inexplicably opted to knock the ball into the path of Mario Mandzukic rather than wallop clear from a passback.

The Juventus striker could not believe his luck as he tapped the ball into the gaping net to hand Croatia a lifeline on 69 minutes with Lloris left clasping his head between his hands in horror.

It left French fans waiting anxiously to see if the mistake would come back to haunt Les Bleus.

Lloris was predictably mocked for his howler on social media.