Croatia pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory over France in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final tie. The hosts
took the lead in the 26th minute through Ante Budimir‘s header, which bounced off France goalkeeper Mike Maignan and spun into the net.
Ivan Perišić doubled Croatia’s advantage in first-half added time, firing home a crisp finish into the bottom corner. The
victory marks a significant upset for France, who were expected to dominate the tie.
France captain Kylian Mbappe made his return to the national side after a six-month absence, but was unable to
inspire his team to victory. Despite having six shots in the match, Mbappe was unable to find the back of the net.
Croatia’s victory was well-deserved, with the hosts creating several scoring opportunities throughout the match.
Andrej Kramaric’s eighth-minute penalty was saved by Maignan with his feet, while Josko Gvardiol’s powerful shot
from long range was also kept out by the AC Milan keeper.
The defeat leaves France facing an uphill task in the second leg, which takes place on Sunday at the Stade de France.
The French team has failed to win any of their last three matches when conceding first in the Nations League.
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Croatia, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their momentum and secure a spot in the Nations League semi-
finals. The team has avoided defeat in their last five matches when scoring first in the competition.
The match saw several standout performances from Croatia’s players, with Perišić and Budimir impressing in
particular. Perišić’s goal was his 33rd for Croatia, making him the country’s third-highest scorer of all time.
France will need to regroup and refocus ahead of the second leg, with coach Didier Deschamps facing a tough task to
motivate his team after a disappointing defeat.
The Nations League quarter-finals continue on Sunday, with France facing a must-win match against Croatia to keep
their hopes of advancing alive.
