FRANCE are still yet to record a win in this season’s UEFA Nations League having been held to a 1-1 draw by Croatia.
An unlikely scorer in Adrien Rabiot put Les Bleus ahead, until Andrej Kramaric’ sublime penalty levelled up the scoring.
But the headlines will be that neither Kylian Mbappe or Karim Benzema was brought off the bench.
- RESULT: Croatia 1-1 France
- TV/Live stream: Premier Sports 1
- Croatia XI: Livakovic; Juranovic, Vida, Erlic, Barisic; Brozovic; Majer, Kovacic, Modric; Budimir, Brekalo
- France XI: Maignan; Pavard, Saliba, Kimpembe; Diaby, Tchouameni, Guendouzi, Rabiot, Digne; Nkunku, Ben Yedder
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That’s all from Split
Croatia and and an alternative France XI drew 1-1 at the Poljud Stadium.
The Tricolores thought they opened the scoring on 31 minutes when Christopher Nkunku picked up a clever through ball by Moussa Diaby and beat Dominik Livakovic from a tight right corner.
But RB Leipzig star Nkunku was caught marginally offside following a quick VAR review.
However, France wouldn’t be denied in the second half when Wissam Ben Yedder turned around and scouted Adrien Rabiot’s run with a stunning ball.
That allowed the Juventus star to beat Livakovic from the left after 52 minutes.
Croatia, though, got an equaliser thanks to a penalty by Andrej Kramaric, who was fouled in France’s area by Jonathan Clauss on 83 minutes.
That’s all from us here in Split, have a great night!
Credit: GETTY IMAGES What’s next?
France’s bid to defend the Nations League title is proving to be rather tricky.
The Tricolores face Austria away on Friday before mixing it up again with Croatia in Paris on Monday.
The Croats face Denmark away on Friday before their second game with Les Bleus.
Their next international matches take place in September
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Updated table
France and Croatia remain in the bottom two spots of Group 1 with the latter last.
Austria and Denmark are still playing at the Ernst Happel Stadion following a power outage at the ground.
Denmark are 1-0 ahead thanks to Tottenham ace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s opener.
More below:
Stats
France dominated a mere 52 per cent of possession against Croatia at the Poljud Stadium.
The game was pretty even across both halves in Split.
The Tricolores registered a total of seven shots, five of which were on target.
The Croats, on the other hand, produced eight shots, five of which were on target.
FT: Croatia 1-1 France
Croatia and France shared the spoils following a 1-1 draw at the Poljud Stadium.
Les Bleus thought they opened the scoring on 31 minutes when Christopher Nkunku picked up a clever through ball by Moussa Diaby and beat Dominik Livakovic from a tight right corner.
But RB Leipzig star Nkunku was caught marginally offside following a VAR review.
However, France wouldn’t be denied in the second half when Wissam Ben Yedder turned around and scouted Adrien Rabiot’s run with a stunning ball that saw the Juventus star beating Livakovic from the left after 52 minutes.
Croatia, though, got an equaliser thanks to a penalty shot by Andrej Kramaric, who was fouled in France’s area by Jonathan Clauss on 83 minutes
Credit: GETTY IMAGES FT: Croatia 1-1 France
PEEP!
That’s full-time in Split!
Croatia 1-1 France
90+4 CHANCE!
Croatia almost steal it with Sucic!
Brozovic plays the ball over to the substitute, who shoots from a tight right angle but misses the target
Croatia 1-1 France
90+3 Kramaric seems to have saved a point for Croatia with his penalty.
Their first point of this term’s Nations League
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Croatia 1-1 France
90 Four minutes of stoppage time to go!
Croatia are dominating and are being pushed by their loud fans!
Croatia 1-1 France
88 WHAT A CHANCE!
Oh my, oh my, oh my….
That was poor by Griezmann, who doesn’t remind us of his old self from 2018….
Croatia get reckless and give the ball away to Griezmann who passes Livakovic but gets to far on the left.
He tries an immediate shot but completely misses the target!
Croatia 1-1 France
87 CHANCE!
Croatia are pushing for a late second!
Vlasic drives the ball down France’s half and shoots from the edge of the area.
Maignan makes another big save as he lunges to his left!
Croatia 1-1 France
85 Croatia are pushing for a second but don’t have Modric on the pitch.
Manager Dalic did say the Croatian legend can’t complete all games in the Nations League this month after a rough season
Croatia 1-1 France
84 YELLOW CARD
France captain Kimpembe is cautioned for a rough challenge
Croatia 1-1 France
83 Kramaric stopped right before shooting a la Pogba.
The Croatia star sends the ball to the left corner and Maignan the other way
Croatia 1-1 France
83 GOAL!
Croatia equalise with Kramaric!
Croatia 0-1 France
82 PENALTY FOR CROATIA!
It actually wasn’t an offside call, it’s a penalty!
Clauss committed a foul on Kramaric in the area shortly after being introduced!
Kramaric takes the shot
Croatia 0-1 France
80 Referee has stopped play in France’s area and is checking with VAR.
But it ultimately goes down to Sucic being deemed offside after getting in front of Maignan and almost scoring on his first touch
Croatia 0-1 France
79 SUBSTITUTION
France manager Deschamps responds with Clauss replacing Diaby
Croatia 0-1 France
78 SUBSTITUTION
Croatia manager Dalic makes another double switch as he brings on Sucic and Vlasic for Modric and Kovacic!
Croatia 0-1 France
75 CHANCE!
France come close to a second to put it to bed!
Nkunku steals the ball down Croatia’s half and passes to Griezmann on his right.
The Atletico Madrid star shoots but is denied by Livakovic, who fails to hold on to the ball.
Griezmann gets the rebound and attempts a weaker shot, which is caught by the Croatian goalkeeper
Croatia 0-1 France
75 Tensions are picking up as both teams are producing some strong challenges.
Croatia need to get an equaliser soon to hope for their first Nations League point
Croatia 0-1 France
71 CHANCE!
Croatia knock on France’s door with Modric who delivers a powerful shot from the edge of the box.
The Real Madrid star cuts it in front of Rabiot and shoots with his left to force a difficult save from Maignan who lunges to his right to deny it
Croatia 0-1 France
70 Griezmann is putting his fresh legs to good use with some intense runs.
The France star is providing some important pressure on Croatia’s defence
Croatia 0-1 France
69 SUBSTITION
Croatia manager Dalic brings on Kramaric to replace Budimir, who is not happy to come out
Croatia 0-1 France
67 This is what separates the two teams so far.
But France will want to capitalise on Rabiot’s opener to put this match to bed.
Deschamps wants to exorcise the poor start with Denmark and admitted he wants his team to get some momentum in the Nations League
Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
