He's from France, her family is Croatian Montreal couple ready for World Cup final

For Gal Lescalier and Alexandra Rusnov,finding neutral ground iskey.

He's originally from France.Her family isCroatian.

And that means that todaycould get heated for the Montreal couple at least in theoryas the French and Croatian soccer teams compete in the FIFAWorld Cup final.

"There's no real rivalry," Rusnovtold CBC Montreal's All in a Weekendahead of the match, laughing.

"May the best team win."

Ties to both countries

Either France or Croatia will be crowned FIFA World Cup 2018 champions, as the final kicked off at 11 a.m.

Lescalier, who's from France but has lived in Montreal for about 20 years,says he had a feeling the two teams would meet.

Based on the groups they drew in the earlier stage of the tournament, the only way they would face each other was in the final, he said.

Rusnov, who concedes that her husband is the bigger soccer fan, wasn't so sure.

"I was really surprised actually that we got that far, because [Croatia is] a really small country. It's not one of the big, big teams in the world, so I find it extraordinary that they got that far already," she said.

The couple got married in Croatia in 2011, and they've spent several summer vacations there.

But while Lescaliersays he loves his wife's homeland, his allegiances are clear.

"I love Croatia, that's for sure," he said. "But in the first place, as a Frenchman, I support France more."

Finding a place to watch the match

Lescalier wanted to watch the match at L'Barouf, a PlateauMont Royal bar that's turned into a meeting place for fans ofLesBleus,but Rusnovsays sheshot down thatidea.

"I said, 'no way. I'm not going there,'" she recalled, with a laugh.

Instead, the pair will watch the match in the Mile End where fans of both teams will be, Rusnov said.

So who's going to win?

The idea that France might not take home the trophy hasn't even crossed his mind, Lescalier said.

"France will win it's that simple."

"But if he was to lose to someone," Rusnov said,"well, might as well lose to Croatia."

Listen to the full All in a Weekend interview here.