Yellow card for Pavard
Delicate entry for the Bayern side, behind Brekalo and logically sanctioned.
Ivusic defeats Mbappé!! (0-1)
The Parisian striker is launched between the lines on the right in the area. He resists Sutalo’s return and strikes unbalanced, his vicious ball is kicked out by Ivusic!
State
France are undefeated at home against Croatia (3 wins, 1 draw). During these 3 successes, the Blues scored a total of 9 goals, including 4 during the last confrontation between the 2 nations on French soil (4-2 on September 8, 2020).
What an intervention by Tchouaméni! (0-1)
The Croats give themselves a breather by resuming a new phase of rather sterile possession behind, as there have been many since the start. But on a long ball, Pavard felt badly and set back his head directly on Brekalo, and it took a splendid tackle from Tchouaméni to prevent Budimir from being found in the ideal position!
There is better for the Blues! (0-1)
The Blues are more and more threatening and are starting to find more space. Benzema was not far from converting a good sequence in the Croatian area, before Mbappé unleashed a nice tense shot on the next action!
Yellow card for Brozovic
Double fault from Brozovic, guilty of a stroller then of having deliberately unbalanced Nkunku. The Frenchman didn’t like it.
The France team is violent
The Blues came back with good intentions and invested the opposing half of the field. Just entering the game, Tchouaméni quickly gets going and triggers a long shot, too crushed.
Here we go again at the Stade de France! (0-1)
Didier Deschamps made two changes at the break: Tchouaméni and Pavard came on in place of Koundé and Kamara.
State
France have never lost against Croatia in 9 games (6 wins, 3 draws), playing more matches without losing than against Iceland (15).
The France team led at the break!
Surprise entry by Croatia on a penalty conceded by Ibrahima Konaté and converted by Luka Modric (0-1, 5th), the French team has a hard time destabilizing very disciplined Croats. Only Kylian Mbappé seems truly able to bring the necessary madness in the game to the Blues who are sorely lacking in it.
twice worthy
The Stade de France is pushing behind the Blues, who are pushing hard before the break. On two consecutive corners, Digne finds himself in a good shooting position then in a central situation, but a Croat always drags where it is necessary.
Additional time
Two more minutes announced by the fourth referee.
Konaté’s essential intervention
Fortunately Konaté had relaxed his leg to intercept this very subtle pass from Brekalo towards the French surface. Brozovic was trailing behind and would have been in a very dangerous position.
Benzema without success
Wanted in depth, Benzema still lacks as much success and fails to take the ball in his race. The Real Madrid striker failed to weigh in this first period.
Quiet like Croats
Collectively, the France team does not put enough intensity in its actions to disturb this Croatian team, which has been playing in an armchair for ten minutes. Modric’s partners keep possession of the ball more and more easily.
Mastered Blues
The French revolve around the surface and the Croatian block, still disciplined. Patients, however, the Blues do not find solutions. The tricolor environment lacks character.
State
During the last 6 meetings between France and Croatia, 4 penalties had already been whistled: 2 for the Blues and 2 for the Croats, including one during the match in Split a week ago.
Nkunku’s firecracker! (0-1)
First real thrill on the Blues side, with this spontaneous strike from Nkunku, who took advantage of a favorable counter at 20 meters. If his powerful shot passes three meters from the post, it is the Blues with this desire that we want to see!
The French team not sharp enough
The Blues are purring and only Mbappé seems able to make a difference. The side Digne and Koundé fail to create the imbalance.
Discreet Benzema, hard-hitting Mbappé
It’s hard to find Benzema in the game, who is celebrating his 97th cap tonight. The attacker is well muzzled by the Croatian hinge. Mbappé participates more and seems on his feet.
Yellow card for Guendouzi
The French midfielder intervenes roughly in the feet of Brekalo, and comes to hit him head-on. The yellow card makes sense.
Maignan relieves the Blues
Imperial in the air, Maignan captures the free kick that follows played by Modric, who centered too close to the French goalkeeper.
Maignan double intervention
The Milan goalkeeper leaves his line far to get ahead of Budimir in his area. His first intervention is good on the attacker, his second then on Pasalic outside his area is sanctioned by the referee.
Mbappé out of balance
The French press again in this first quarter of an hour where we go blow for blow. Mbappé recovers the ball in the opposing area, hooks a defender and then shoots off balance. A Croat is on the trajectory.
Curious arbitration decision
The whole Stade de France is furious when Mbappé, launched like a rocket on the counter, fell in the Croatian half of the field. Kovacic had however missed his tackle and the ball, and his intervention deserved a yellow. But the referee… let the game continue!
Pasalic was not far
It’s again very hot for the Blues with this overflow on the left of Brekalo, more lively than Koundé. His tense center is very close to being taken over at close range by Pasalic.
The reaction of the Blues! (0-1)
The France team is moving forward quickly and quickly wants to be forgiven for this terrible start. Stopped at 20 meters, Mbappé triggers a half-volley on a support, his shot is captured by Ivusic!
MODRIC TRANSFORMS, 0-1 FOR CROATIA!!!
Maignan hit this shot halfway up the left of Modric, but the French goalkeeper didn’t have a firm enough hand! The ball enters, and the Blues are already behind!!
And penalty for Croatia!! (0-0)
Oooh it starts very badly for the Blues, since the referee quickly returned to this corner, where Budimir collapsed in the area. He was hit by Konaté, the penalty is well confirmed by the video!
First Croatian corner
The Croats are on the attack and obtain the first corner of the match, on the right. Brekalo plays close on Modric, whose cross towards the near post is pushed back by Benzema.
Let’s go to Saint-Denis! (0-0)
It was the Croats, in black, who kicked off this match of the 4th day of the League of Nations! The Blues are in white.
Kick-off is imminent!
The players enter the lawn of a full Stade de France, accompanied by the referee of the meeting, the Israeli Orel Grinfeld. The national anthems will sound!
State
The France team has not won any of its last 3 matches (2 draws, 1 loss). It was only in March-September 2013 and June-September 2021 (5) that it had a longer unsuccessful streak under the Deschamps era.
Of the interest of going far
A final victory in the League of Nations also offers a chance of qualification for Euro 2024 if the classic path via the playoffs turn out to be a failure. On the other hand, if the Blues finish last in their group, they will be relegated to League B, a sort of second division of the competition.
Reminder of the rules
As in the first two editions, finishing first in a first division group allows you to play a final phase with the other group winners in June 2023. This was the case for the Blues, winners of the mini-tournament in the fall last.
Aiming for a final against Denmark?
With a clear round over the last three days, the Blues would be at least second (eleven points). If the Danish leaders lose points en route to the next two meetings, a group final would take place on September 25 in Denmark. If it wins, France would then scratch on the wire the first place.
But several scenarios could already prevent the Blues from qualifying for the final phase of the competition depending on the results of the evening. We make the point below:
The point in group A after 3 days
1. Denmark: 6 points (+1).
2. Austria: 4 pts (+2)
3. Croatia: 4 pts (-2)
4. France: 2 pts (-1)
The calendar :
– 4th day: France-Croatia, Monday June 13 (8:45 p.m.);
– 5th day: France-Austria, Thursday September 22 (8:45 p.m.);
– 6th day: Denmark-France, Sunday September 25 (8:45 p.m.).
2,000 gendarmes and police around the Stade de France
Two weeks after the fiasco of the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, 2,000 gendarmes and police are present near the Stade de France this Monday evening. Still an impressive device.
PN
And here is the Croatian composition, with Modric
Croatia’s XI: Ivusic – Stanisic, Erlic, Sutalo, Juranovic – Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic – Pasalic, Budimir, Brekalo
The composition of the Blues, with Benzema, Mbappé, and Konaté
Here is the starting lineup for the France team this Monday evening:
Maignan – Koundé, Konaté, Kimpembe, Digne – Kamara, Guendouzi, Rabiot – Nkunku, Mbappé, Benzema.
LT
The Blues eliminated from the race for the Final 4 if…
Holders of the League of Nations title, the France team finds itself in great danger this Monday before its match against Croatia. Last in the group with only two points, the selection led by Didier Deschamps could even see all its chances of playing in the Final 4 disappear.
A defeat for the Blues against the Croats and any result other than a draw between Denmark and Austria would ruin the dreams of a historic double for France in the League of Nations.
>> More explanations here
Which team for the Blues?
According to information from RMC Sport, the Blues would return to a 3-man defense, with an attacking trio with Nkunku and Mbappé starting safe, and Ben Yedder or Griezmann in the middle:
The probable composition of the Blues
Maignan – Koundé, Konaté, Kimpembe – Clauss, Digne – Guendouzi, Rabiot – Nkunku, Ben Yedder (or Griezmann), Mbappe.
Kick-off at 8:45 p.m., a match broadcast on TF1
On which channel to watch France-Croatia?, and of course on TF1, which shares the rights of Les Bleus with M6. A match to follow on the RMC antenna and live commented on the RMC Sport website and app.
Hello and welcome to this live
As we meet again, a week later. After their draw in Split last Monday, the Blues and the Croats meet at the Stade de France on Monday evening (it’s only the second match since the chaos of the Champions League final). The Blues got off to a bad start, with two points in the first three games (out of 6) but in the event of a draw tonight in the other match between Croatia and Denmark, the Blues keep their destiny in their hands if they win their last three games.