Nations League: France win dramatic affair against Croatia

The penalties eventually separated France and Croatia in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League at Stade de France after the game ended 2-2 on aggregate after 120 minutes of action.

Croatia had got the job done in Split during Thursday’s first leg against an impressive French side. 

However, Didier Deschamps’s men produced a top-notch performance against their visitors, who looked defensively disciplined in the first half, but Les Bleus were rewarded for their hard work when Michael Olise reduced the deficit with a stunning free-kick, and in-form Ousmane Dembele got his 23rd goal in 2025 to level matters on aggregate for his team after being released by Olise 

France continued to press on for the winner but met stiff resistance from the goalie, who produced one of the best performances of the day, stopping star player Kylian Mbappe twice from close range.

France made their intention known from the blast of the whistle and were dominant throughout, producing over 18 shots and 16 corners with Croatia having none.

After 120 minutes, the game was decided via penalties as both teams initially lost two penalties before Upemacano eventually put France through the semi-final against Spain after Maignan saved the spot kick of Josip Stanisic.

Croatia got a bad start from the spot kick as Mike Maignan, who saved one from Kramaric in the first leg, dived right to save the spot kick of Martin Baturina.

The skipper, Mbappe, was lucky as the keeper got a hand in his penalty, but it still went in.

Nikola Moro then scored Coroatia’s next penalty, and Aurélien Tchouaméni rolled his spot-kick in, and France led 2-1.

Franjo Ivanovic then sent his his effort way over the goal to give France a 2-0 lead, but they even wasted it as Kounde and Theo Hernandez who had the chance to score the winning penalty blazed their efforts wide, after Randal Kolo-Muani and Desire Doue had colly slotted in theirs in between Mari Pasalic’s spot kick.

Maignan made his third penalty save of the night by stopping 

Josip Stanisic to give France another opportunity to progress, and Upemacano didn’t miss this one as they booked a date with European champions Spain, which knocked them out of the Euro 2024 semifinals.

They will meet on June 5, and the UEFA Nations League final will take place on June 8.