UEFA Nations League, Croatia, France, Luka Modric

France ‘s chances of winning the Nations League are over!

June 13, 2022

After losing at home to Croatia, France ‘s chances of regaining the Nations League championship are ended,

and they will not be able to compete in next year’s finals.

The game’s only goal came in the fifth minute,

when Luka Modric converted a penalty after Ibrahima Konate fouled Ante Budimir.

France had three of the top four scorers in Europe’s major leagues in Karim Benzema,

Kylian Mbappe, and Christopher Nkunku, but they failed to score.

Watch the winning penalty of Croatia vs France now!!

With two points from four games, Didier Deschamps’ side is at the bottom of Group A1.

“In terms of results, June was a challenging month. We did not have the energy and the strength against teams who had more than us,” said Deschamps.

Croatia is facing a penalty!
At a corner, Ibrahima Konaté seems to barely clip Ante Budimir’s heel, and Croatia has a penalty kick three minutes in. Modric takes the initiative…

Kick-off!
At the Stade de France and Parken, we’re in full swing.

Oh, and don’t forget that Iceland is playing Israel in a genuinely dramatic League B, Group 2 top-of-the-table duel in Reykjavik.

GOAL! France defeats Croatia 1-0. (Modric 5 pen)
While Mike Maignan gets a hand on the penalty, the France goalkeeper fails to push it round the post. Croatia has taken the lead early on.

17 minutes: France is all over the place at the moment,

with Maignan rushing off his line and making a dangerous challenge on Budimir before sliding in on Josip Brekalo outside the area and bundling the ball away.

Guendouzi is arrested shortly after barreling into Brekalo with a raised elbow. To say the least, the hosts have had a shaky start.

If they were planning on playing a 4-4-2, Mbappé and Nkunku on each side of Benzema have rapidly devolved into a 4-3-3. On existing evidence, it isn’t actually working.

28 minutes: Mbappé is doing everything he can to help France, hugging the left sideline and stretching Croatia’s defence. After a flurry of activity in attack, Nkunku finds an opening and blasts a long-range shot past the near post.

After losing 1-0 to Croatia in Paris, France can no longer qualify for the Nations League semi-finals.

Luka Modric’s early penalty handed the world champions their second defeat in four Group A games,

putting them in serious danger of relegation with two games remaining.

Les Bleus had a number of chances but were unable to equalise,

leaving them seven points behind leaders Denmark and five points behind second-placed Croatia.

In the fifth minute, Real Madrid’s Modric converted a penalty kick after Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate fouled Ante Budimir.

Denmark leads the group by two points after Jonas Wind and Andreas Skov Olsen scored in the first half to secure their third win of the season,

Kazakhstan triumphed 2-1 over Slovakia in Astana to extend their unbeaten start to the season to four games and move four points clear at the top of Group C3.

After losing 1-0 at home to Croatia, defending champions France have lost their Nations League crown and face relegation.

At the Stade de France on Monday night,

the visitors took the lead thanks to a penalty from star midfielder Luka Modric in the fifth minute.

It was here that he commanded the Champions League final for Real Madrid little over two weeks ago, belying his advanced years with a display full of deft passing and clever space movement.

Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, Jonas Older Wind and Andreas Skov Olsen scored goals to help Denmark defeat Austria and advance to the Final Four.

Only the group winner advances, thus the Danes have nine points, two more than second-placed Croatia. After a fourth game without a win, Austria is in third place with four points, while France is in last place with two. The team that finishes last is demoted.

Didier Deschamps ultimately benched first-choice forward Antoine Griezmann, who hasn’t scored for the squad since early January, in favour of Christopher Nkunku, Karim Benzema, and Kylian Mbappe in attack.

As France found more space in the second half, Benzema went close, and Griezmann received a standing ovation when he came in for the final 10 minutes.

As France’s hopes faded, Benzema’s added-time header was superbly saved by goalie Ivica Ivusic.

In the 2018 World Cup final, France defeated Croatia 4-2; yet, the Croats were superior on the night against a French side lacking in midfield intensity.

“Luka, Luka,” the Croatian supporters yelled as their inspiring captain gave them a thumbs up after the game.

In Group B2, Israel fought back from behind twice to tie Iceland 2-2.

Kazakhstan seized leadership of Group C3 with a 2-1 win over Slovakia at home, moving to ten points. They are four points clear of Slovakia in second place, while Azerbaijan defeated Belarus 2-0 in the other match.