A tough blow for Les Bleus in Split. The French team lost 2-0 to Croatia in the first leg of the Nations League quarter-final. The return match will be highly strategic!
Kylian Mbappé’s return to the French national team after months of absence hasn’t sparked the expected sparks. Far from it. Les Bleus’ 2025 return to action will therefore begin with a defeat against Croatia after their last 3-1 victory against Italy. At the top of their group, the French team looked pale this evening, finding themselves more dangerous.
The start of the match turned to the Blues’ disadvantage. Initially surprised by a penalty quickly conceded, saved by Maignan, France logically conceded to a header from Budimir, before conceding a second goal just before the break. The Blues are currently overwhelmed defensively and not dangerous enough up front to hope for better. 2-0 at the break.
After the break, the Blues showed a little more resistance but were unable to reduce the deficit. The Digne-Mbappé combination was too messy to be dangerous, let alone effective.
The Blues have been pushing ever since, monopolizing possession in the opposing half without finding a breakthrough. The Croatian defense woke up and proved relentless in the final quarter of an hour, closing off the slightest opportunity for the Blues.
Please note that the outcome of this quarter-final will be closely watched in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup. If they emerge victorious, the French will be placed in Group D of the qualifiers with Ukraine, Iceland, and Azerbaijan.
In case of defeat, France will be placed in Group L, with five opponents: the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Gibraltar, and the Faroe Islands.