Mbappe couldn't inspire France in first-leg defeat
Croatia 2 - 0 France
France captain Kylian Mbappe's return to the national team ended in a surprising defeat against Croatia in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final.
Stadium - Stadion Poljud
Ante Budimir's header bounced off the France goalkeeper and spun into the net, giving Croatia a 26th-minute lead.
Former Tottenham winger Ivan Perišić then scored a well-placed shot into the bottom corner to extend their advantage just before halftime.
Croatia could have been ahead earlier, but 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.
France now face a tough task to turn the tie around in Sunday's second leg at the Stade de France.
They have failed to win any of their last three matches in the Nations League when conceding first, with their last victory in such circumstances occurring against Spain in October 2021.
Mbappé, who has scored 20 La Liga goals in his debut season with Real Madrid, returned to the French national team after a six-month absence. However, he could not inspire his teammates, despite taking six shots during the match.
A closer look at what happened and more reaction
Both goalkeepers were kept busy in a lively opening 20 minutes, with Kylian Mbappé testing Dominik Livaković from a tight angle inside the box, while Joško Gvardiol forced Mike Maignan into action with a powerful long-range strike.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half when Ivan Perišić latched onto a long ball down the left wing and whipped in a teasing cross, which found the head of Ante Budimir.
Maignan managed to get a hand to Budimir’s effort, but the deflection spun awkwardly past him and trickled over the line to give Croatia the lead.
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Buoyed by the opener, Croatia doubled their advantage just before the break, with Perišić turning scorer after providing the assist for the first. The No 14 was quickest to react to the rebound after William Saliba’s block and lashed a superb first-time strike beyond Maignan to make it 2-0.
Croatia remained in control, defending resolutely as France searched for a way back into the game. Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola both went close but failed to find the target.
Livaković underlined his brilliance once more in the 81st minute, stretching to his right to get a fingertip to a fierce Mbappé strike as France ramped up the pressure.
But Croatia’s defence held firm, absorbing everything thrown at them to see out a memorable victory.
