FOOTBALL

AFTER THE ELEVEN, FRANCE ENDED CROATIA’S JOURNEY IN THE UEFA LEAGUE OF NATIONS

tsg_news March 24, 2025

FRANCE – CROATIA 2:0 (0:0)
France: Maignan, Hernandez, Saliba, Upamecano, Kounde, Tchoumeni, Kone (111′ Zaire-Emery), Barcola (66′ Doue), Dembele (99′ Kolo Muani), Olise (106′ Camavinga), Mbappe
Croatia: Livaković, Gvardiol (106′ Pongracić), Ćaleta-Car, Šutalo, Stanišić, Kovačić (81′ Jakić), Modrić (81′ Moro), Sučić, Kramarić (71′ Baturina), Perišić (71′ Pašalić), Budimir (60′ Ivanović)

However, the Croatian national football team failed to secure a place in the League of Nations final tournament for the second time in a row—after Vatreni’s victory (2:0) in Split, France was better in Paris.

From the very beginning, France started to look for a goal, but the Croatian defense kept its net in the first half. The mistakes of Mbappe and Tchouameni in the opening minutes and the fantastic defense of Livaković in the 38th minute, when Barcola went towards him alone, stood out.

However, in the 52nd minute, Olise executed an excellent free kick and aimed at the top corner for 1:0, only for Dembele to score ten minutes before the end from the heart of the penalty area for 2:0 and overtime.

In the extra half hour, Livaković maintained that result on the scoreboard with several new saves, and finally, the penalty shootout began. Moro, Pašalić, Jakić, and Ćaleta-Car scored for Croatia, and it was the seventh series in which Maignan stopped Stanišić’s attempt, while Upamecano started the French celebration.

In the League of Nations semi-final matches, at the final tournament in Germany, Germany and Portugal, or France and Spain, will meet.

The second leg of the Nations League quarter-final between France and Croatia was played in Paris, and the home team celebrated after a shootout from the penalty spot.

First, I am proud of the team in the first and second games. We were playing against one of the best national teams in the world, we knew it would not be easy in Paris and it was. Unfortunately, we fell out most painfully. I had a lot to do, and I tried to concentrate. We fought; we knew it would be challenging. Penalty? I regret the penalty. I was very close in the first two, but I don’t know what to say. I did not defend – Dominik Livaković, Croatian Goalkeeper

It’s hard for me to analyze the game right after it, but the impression is that they pressed us, were better, and had better opportunities. We were not as specific in several situations as in Split, but that is normal against such a strong team. It was a battle; we held on until the eightieth minute. It’s a shame we conceded a goal, but it was good. The guys who entered showed they could, so we turned to the qualifications for the world championship. It was nerve-wracking to watch overtime and penalties from the bench. The round of 11 is a lottery; we’ve been through it many times, but it wasn’t like that in this case. We are turning to the end of the club season. A new qualification cycle is ahead of us. We showed that we are accurate and that the guys coming here are well deserved. Of course, we can do better; we weren’t right. There was a lack of freshness and energy; the first game used us up and exhausted us, and the French had a lot of players to rotate. We wanted to be at the Final Four, but it didn’t work out. Head up – Mateo Kovačić, Croatian Player

There were a lot of new players, and we finished the game with debutants and players who had played a small number of games for the national team. This is our reality. We have to accept it. It’s hard to be competitive with the French or the Spanish in two games. We didn’t want to defend ourselves and retreat to a low block, but our opponent forced us to do so; he imposed himself, he was better and faster. Even when we could get out, we were threatened by dangerous French counterattacks. We have nothing to think about. It is a good school for us, for the future. We don’t have a choice of players like France, but the Split meeting showed we can be competitive with them. Our path is a change of generations – Zlatko Dalić, Croatian Head Coach

SOURCE: Croatian Football Federation