After suffering a humbling 2-0 defeat to Croatia in Split, France finds themselves in a precarious position as they aim to secure a spot in the UEFA Nations League (UNL) final four.
This loss marked a historic moment for manager Didier Deschamps, who equaled the record for the third-most appearances by a manager for a single international team. However, his milestone was overshadowed by a disappointing performance from Les Bleus, leaving them in desperate need of a turnaround in the second leg.
Despite the setback, history favors France as they prepare to host Croatia in Paris. Thursday’s defeat was only their second in 11 encounters with the Croatians (W6, D3), offering a glimmer of hope for a comeback. Additionally, France has previously demonstrated resilience in similar situations, most notably in their 2013 World Cup play-off against Ukraine. After losing the first leg 2-0, they staged a remarkable 3-0 victory in the return leg to advance.
For Croatia, confidence will be high following their victory, but they remain wary of France’s ability to turn the tide. Manager Zlatko Dalić understands the challenge ahead, particularly given Croatia’s inconsistent form on the road. Since December 2022, they have suffered only one defeat by a margin significant enough to eliminate them in regulation time, highlighting their defensive resilience.
However, Croatia’s recent away form in the UNL presents cause for concern. They have failed to win any of their last three away matches in the competition (D1, L2), conceding the opening goal within the first ten minutes in two of those games. To advance to the semi-finals for a second consecutive time, they must overcome these struggles and produce a solid defensive display in Paris.
Players to Watch:
- Ousmane Dembélé (France): The forward netted France’s last international goal on home soil and has been in red-hot form across Europe’s top-five leagues, scoring 13 goals since the start of 2025.
- Ante Budimir (Croatia): The striker opened the scoring in Split and has netted four goals in his last five matches for club and country, making him a key threat for the visitors.
Hot Stat: France have failed to score in two of their last three UNL matches, equaling the number of scoreless games from their previous 15 competition fixtures combined.
With both teams eyeing a place in the semi-finals, this clash promises to be a thrilling contest filled with high stakes and tactical battles. Can France bounce back and keep their Nations League hopes alive, or will Croatia complete the job and progress to the final four?
