From Moscow to Paris
France repeats 4:2 win over Croatia
08.09.2020.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
FIFA World Cup runners-up visited the world champions on Tuesday, with the Paris outcome being identical to the Moscow one.
FRANCE - CROATIA 4:2 (2:1)
UEFA Nations League, Group A3.
Stade de France, Saint-Denis.
Referee: O. Hategan (Romania)
Goals: 0:1 - Lovren (17'), 1:1 - Griezmann (43'), 2:1 - Livaković (45+1', ag), 2:2 - Brekalo (55'), 3:2 - Upamecano (65'), 4:2 - Giroud (77' - 11m)
Cautions: Ćaleta-Car (34'), Lenglet (38'), Kante (59'), Nzonzi (68'), Lovren (76'), Brozović (76')
France: Lloris, Upamecano, Lenglet, Hernandez, Sissoko, Kante (63' Camavinga), Nzonzi, Mendy, Griezmann (78' Fekir), Ben Yedder (63' Giroud), Martial. Head coach: D. Deschamps.
Croatia: Livaković, Melnjak, Ćaleta-Car, Lovren, Uremović (57' Vida), Vlašić, Brozović, Kovačić, Perišić (66' Pašalić), Kramarić, Rebić (46' Brekalo). Head coach: Z. Dalić.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Croatia national football team was defeated by France in the UEFA Nations League, two years following the identical 4:2 loss in the FIFA World Cup Final.
Zlatko Dalić's men have presented a quality response to the performance in Portugal and took the lead at the Stade de France on 17 minutes, when Dejan Lovren showed some skill to send the ball home after a rebound.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Half an hour into the game, Croatia goalie Livaković continued with his masterclass interventions, while the French comeback begun in the closing minutes of the first half. Griezman finished off a nice move by the hosts, and soon afterwards Martial struck the post, and the ball bounced off Livaković into the net.
Thus, France enjoyed a 2:1 lead at the break, when Brekalo came on for Rebić. Ten minutes into the second half, with Kovačić providing a beautiful assist, Brekalo managed to find a way through French defence and scored his first international goal to make it 2:2.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
However, Upamecano's header on 65 minutes restored the world champions' lead, and Giroud sealed the outcome from the spot on 77 minutes. On the other side, Vlašić hit the woodwoork.
In the other Group A3 match, Portugal celebrated a 2:0 victory in Sweden, with Croatia hosting Sweden on 11 October. Three days later, Croatia hosts France.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
UEFA Nations League, Group A3:
1. Portugal 6 (6:1)
2. France 6 (5:2)
3. Sweden 0 (0:3)
4. Croatia 0 (2:8)
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
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