France suffered a major setback in their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie, falling 2-0 to Croatia in the first leg.
With goals from Ante Budimir and Ivan Perišić, Les Bleus now have an uphill task ahead of the return fixture at the Stade de France.
Right from the start, controversy struck when a cross from the right hit Ibrahima Konaté’s hand inside the box. The referee wasted no time in awarding Croatia a penalty. Although Andrej Kramarić stepped up confidently, Mike Maignan denied him with an impressive save using his legs.
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France, however, struggled to capitalise on that early lifeline, as Croatia continued to press forward. Eventually, the breakthrough came when Budimir outpaced William Saliba and guided a precise header past Maignan. That goal handed Croatia full control, leaving the 2018 World Cup winners unable to build consistent possession.
As halftime approached, France’s problems worsened. Saliba attempted a block, but the ball fell kindly to Perišić, who wasted no time in firing home a half-volley. That second goal exposed France’s defensive frailties, leaving them trailing by two goals at the break.
After the restart, France enjoyed more possession and looked more threatening in attack. Ousmane Dembélé came close to pulling one back, shaping up for a shot, but he missed the near post. Minutes later, Kylian Mbappé delivered a fine cross into the box, setting up another chance for Dembélé, yet Livakovic denied him again.
Despite France’s second-half improvements, their efforts were not enough to trouble Croatia’s well-organised defense. The home side managed the game effectively, preventing the visitors from gaining any real momentum.
It was a night to forget for Konaté, who endured a tough outing. His handball led to Croatia’s early penalty, and although it did not result in a goal, his defensive display remained shaky. Alongside Saliba, he struggled to contain Croatia’s attackers before being replaced by Dayot Upamecano.
With France now facing a two-goal deficit, all eyes turn to the second leg in Paris. If Les Bleus are to overturn the result, they must be sharper at both ends of the pitch.
Tags: Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano, France, Croatia, William Saliba, Ousmane Dembélé, Les Bleus, Ante Budimir, Ivan Perišić, UEFA Nations League, quarter-final first leg, Andrej Kramarić, Mike Maignan, #UNL, #CROFRA, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcsports.
