France vs. Croatia | Nations League | Quarter-Finals | 2nd Leg | Pre Match
France vs. Croatia
With one half of the 2018 World Cup final revenge mission complete, Croatia seek to finish the job against France in the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final on Sunday evening at the Stade de France. The first leg on Thursday at Stadion Poljud was a masterclass from Zlatko Dalic’s side, who secured a richly deserved 2-0 victory that has left them tantalizingly close to the semi-finals, where either Spain or the Netherlands await in June. For Croatia, this tie carries the weight of history, a chance to exorcise the ghosts of their 4-2 defeat to France in the 2018 World Cup final, a match that saw Les Bleus claim global glory while the Chequered Ones settled for a valiant runners-up finish. Thursday’s encounter showcased Croatia’s enduring quality, with 36-year-old Ivan Perisic rolling back the years to outshine France’s Kylian Mbappe, a decade his junior and poised to dominate the sport for years to come. Perisic’s delicate cross set up Ante Budimir’s opener, and his stunning half-volley just before halftime doubled the lead, leaving France reeling. The scoreline could have been even more lopsided had Mike Maignan not denied Andrej Kramaric from the penalty spot early on, but as it stands, Croatia hold a commanding advantage heading into Paris. For France, the defeat exposed frailties in a team that has struggled for consistency in the Nations League on home soil, and with Didier Deschamps set to depart after the 2026 World Cup, the pressure is mounting to deliver a turnaround. Sunday’s clash promises to be a defining moment, with Croatia aiming to secure a historic semi-final berth and France desperate to avoid an embarrassing exit on their own turf.
Zlatko Dalic's side have one foot firmly in the last four of the competition courtesy of a richly-deserved 2-0 win on Thursday evening, where Les Bleus looked a shadow of the team that stormed to global glory in Russia. The contrast between the two sides in Split was stark: Croatia were cohesive, purposeful, and clinical, while France appeared disjointed and lacking inspiration. Perisic, a veteran of the 2018 final, proved age is just a number, delivering a performance that echoed his prime years with a goal and an assist that silenced the French attack. Budimir’s header from Perisic’s pinpoint delivery opened the scoring, a reward for Croatia’s early dominance, and the winger’s half-volley—a moment of pure brilliance—sent a raucous home crowd into delirium. France, meanwhile, were fortunate to escape with only a two-goal deficit, as Kramaric’s penalty miss in the eighth minute spared them further humiliation. Maignan’s save was a rare bright spot for Les Bleus, who otherwise struggled to contain Croatia’s relentless pressure. The defeat snapped a five-game unbeaten run for Deschamps’ side, marking just their second loss in 12 away Nations League matches, but their record at home in the competition tells a different story. With only two wins in their last six Nations League games at the Stade de France—following an unbeaten start of four wins and a draw in their first five—France’s fortress has become a vulnerability. As Croatia celebrated a victory that bolstered their impeccable home record (unbeaten in six Nations League games), France were left to lick their wounds, facing a monumental task to overturn the deficit in front of their own fans, where recent performances suggest anything but certainty.
Thursday's opening quarter-final encounter featured two star wingers at opposite ends of their careers, as while Real Madrid hotshot Kylian Mbappe is about to enter his prime years, Ivan Perisic—a man 10 years his senior—is enjoying the last knockings of his illustrious journey. Mbappe, widely regarded as the heir to the throne of world football, was expected to be the difference-maker for France, his blistering pace and clinical finishing a constant threat. Yet, it was Perisic, now 36 and in the twilight of a career that has seen him shine at clubs like Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, who stole the show. His assist for Budimir was a thing of beauty, a lofted ball that begged to be finished, and his half-volley—a technically sublime strike—underscored his enduring class. Mbappe, by contrast, was largely subdued, unable to impose himself against a Croatian defense marshaled with discipline and grit. The disparity highlighted Croatia’s reliance on their seasoned campaigners, a generation that has carried them to a World Cup final and now stands on the brink of another milestone. For France, the failure to ignite Mbappe’s spark was symptomatic of broader issues, with Deschamps’ side lacking the cohesion that defined their 2018 triumph. The loss ended a run of form that had seen Les Bleus lose just once in their last 11 competitive outings, but it also exposed vulnerabilities that Croatia exploited ruthlessly. As they prepare for the return leg, France must find a way to unleash their young superstar, while Croatia will lean on Perisic’s experience to navigate the cauldron of the Stade de France, where their 1-0 win in 2022 offers a blueprint for success.
As France conducted their first-leg post-mortem, Croatia revelled in a merited success as they took a giant step towards the final four, where either Spain or the Netherlands will await in June if they can hold their own at the Stade de France. The form book had not been kind to Dalic’s side entering the tie, with a three-game winless run in the Nations League group stage—yielding just two points from matches against Portugal, Scotland, and Poland—casting doubt on their credentials. Yet, Thursday’s performance was a return to the Croatia of old, a team that thrives on home soil, where they’ve lost none of their last six Nations League games. The challenge now lies in translating that form to an away fixture, where their record is far less impressive: no wins in three road games in the 2024-25 group stage, with goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic kept busy even in victory on Thursday. France’s expected onslaught in Paris will test Croatia’s resolve, but their recent history against Les Bleus offers hope. A 1-0 win in France in the 2022-23 Nations League, courtesy of a Luka Modric penalty, marked their first victory in 10 attempts against Deschamps’ side, a drought that stretched back to 1998. Thursday’s triumph made it back-to-back wins, flipping a once-lopsided rivalry on its head. For Dalic, the key will be balancing defensive solidity with the attacking threat that dismantled France in Split, knowing that a single goal conceded could shift the tie’s momentum. With a semi-final spot within reach, Croatia stand on the cusp of another chapter in their remarkable story, but the Stade de France looms as their ultimate test.
France and Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate endured arguably the worst 45 minutes of his season so far on Thursday, as after giving away the penalty that Kramaric fluffed due to a bizarre handball, the 25-year-old was forced off with what Les Bleus' official X account claimed was an injury. Deschamps later clarified that Konate’s withdrawal was tactical, not injury-related, a damning indictment of his first-half struggles, though he remains available for Sunday. Dayot Upamecano is poised to replace him alongside William Saliba, while Ousmane Dembele’s lively cameo could earn him a start up top, potentially alongside Michael Olise or Bradley Barcola as Deschamps seeks more dynamism. Adrien Rabiot’s calf injury puts his participation in doubt, paving the way for Eduardo Camavinga to join Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield. Croatia, unscathed from the first leg aside from Luka Sucic’s pre-match injury, may see Dalic opt for a defensive tweak, possibly introducing Borna Sosa for Martin Baturina to bolster the backline. Modric and Mateo Kovacic will anchor the midfield, their experience vital against a French side desperate to salvage the tie. With France’s home woes and Croatia’s newfound confidence, Sunday’s showdown promises drama, intensity, and a decisive step toward the Nations League semi-finals.
