The French football team ended a series of four matches in the League of Nations without a win, with a 1-0 home defeat against Croatia on June 13, 2022 in Saint-Denis. The French will no longer be able to qualify for the final phase of the competition and defend their title there.
After a 2-1 defeat at home to Denmark and 1-1 draws in Croatia and Austria, the French football team ended this series of four matches with another setback on June 13, 2022 at the Stade de France. , in group A1 of the League of Nations. A competition where she will find the Austrians (September 22) and the Danes (September 25) in three months, the last gathering before the 2022 World Cup (November 21-December 18).
The Croats pick the French cold
From the 5th minute, the reigning world champions are picked cold. Referee Orel Grinfeld whistles a penalty for a foul by defender Ibrahima Konaté in his penalty area on striker Ante Budimir. Midfielder Luka Modric pulls him in force. The tricolor goalkeeper Mike Maignan touches the ball with his right hand, but can only slow down his race: 0-1. A Maignan who then carried out a perilous triple intervention by going out in front of Budimir and midfielder Josip Brekalo (15th).
In the middle and especially in defense, the Habs seem in difficulty. In attack, Kylian Mbappé, holder with Karim Benzema, struggles. However, it was Christopher Nkunku who landed the first significant French strike, powerful but not precise (28th). It was not until the 47th minute and a crushed shot from midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni that the French framed an attempt. In the 55th minute, it was Mbappé who forced goalkeeper Ivica Ivusic to deflect the ball with the end of the gloves (55th). Then in the 61st minute to fold on a new shot.
Last Blues in the standings
In the second half, the Blues besieged the Croatian cage, in long sequences, but without much success. As for the visitors, they proceed by counter-attacks. In the 71st, midfielder Lovro Majer, for example, forces Maignan to deflect a shot with both fists.
Last in the classification of its pool, the France team can no longer qualify for the final phase of the League of Nations and defend its title there. And she was not reassured five months before the World Cup in Qatar.