France should overturn a two-goal deficit through the second leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie on Sunday night once they go to Croatia.
Les Bleus suffered a shock 2-0 defeat in Cut up on Thursday night time as objectives from Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic downed Didier Deschamps’ star-studded squad, leaving the 2018 world champions with an infinite hill to climb in the event that they wish to attain the semi-finals.
The disappointing midweek defeat means they’ve now misplaced their final two clashes with Croatia and can have their work minimize out to unlock Zlatko Dalic’s skilled outfit in Saint-Denis.
Thursday’s victory ended a three-game winless run for Croatia, who will probably be filled with confidence for Sunday’s return leg. Nonetheless, they have not received away from house soil since earlier than Euro 2024 and may’t afford any lapses in focus towards France’s superstars.
Right here is 90min’s information to the conflict.
France vs Croatia head-to-head file (final 5 video games)
Present kind (all competitions)
|
France |
Croatia |
|---|---|
|
Croatia 2-0 France – 20/03/25 |
Croatia 2-0 France – 20/03/25 |
|
Italy 1-3 France – 17/11/24 |
Croatia 1-1 Portugal – 18/11/24 |
|
France 0-0 Israel – 14/11/24 |
Scotland 1-0 Croatia – 15/11/24 |
|
Belgium 1-2 France – 14/10/24 |
Poland 3-3 Croatia – 15/10/24 |
|
Israel 1-4 France – 10/10/24 |
Croatia 2-1 Scotland – 12/10/24 |
|
Nation |
TV channel/stay stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Viaplay Worldwide YouTube |
|
United States |
fuboTV, ViX |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Liverpool supporters have been left sweating over the health of Ibrahima Konate following the primary leg, with the centre-back supposedly substituted at half-time as a consequence of damage. Nonetheless, Deschamps has since confirmed that the alteration was tactical after a disappointing displaying from the 25-year-old.
Dayot Upamecano might come into the beginning XI on Sunday consequently, whereas Deschamps might also transfer away from the 4-3-1-2 system that did not encourage in Cut up.
Transferring to a 4-2-3-1 formation might assist France unlock their attacking potential, with Michael Olise one other Bayern Munich star doubtlessly incomes a recall to the beginning lineup.
France predicted lineup vs Croatia (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Camavinga; Dembele, Olise, Mbappe; Kolo Muani.
Perisic performed with the vitality and confidence of somebody ten years his junior on Thursday night time as he scored and assisted. The PSV Eindhoven man will earn one other begin alongside fellow veterans Luka Modric and Andrej Kramaric.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was in nice kind towards France as he repeatedly rebuffed France’s ahead line and he and his defenders must be at their greatest to guard the two-goal cushion.
Dalic is unlikely to make any modifications from the staff that sparkled on Thursday.
Croatia predicted lineup vs France (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Caleta-Automobile, Gvardiol; Modric, Kovacic; Perisic, Baturina, Kramaric; Budimir.
Regardless of Croatia’s two-goal benefit from the primary leg, France will nonetheless be vital favourites to safe victory on Sunday and lots of will fancy their probabilities of overturning the deficit and reaching the final 4.
France ought to provide extra attacking ingenuity through the second leg in entrance of their house supporters and have the personnel to punish an ageing Croatia facet who will probably be undoubtedly fatigued from the primary encounter just some days in the past.
