Spot On Luka Modric Gifts Croatia Away Win Over Nations League Holders France

14th June 2022

Luka Modric’s early penalty gave Croatia the win over off-form France in Paris as the World Cup holders finished their June run of Nations League matches without a victory in four outings

Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric (R) celebrates his team's first goal on a penalty kick with temmates during the UEFA Nations League - League A Group 1 football match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on June 13, 2022. PHOTO | AFP
Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric (R) celebrates his team's first goal on a penalty kick with temmates during the UEFA Nations League - League A Group 1 football match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on June 13, 2022. PHOTO | AFP
SUMMARY
  • UEFA Nations League holders France continued their horrid run in this year's edition after they fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Croatia on Monday night
  • Veteran Croatia captain Modric stroked in his spot-kick after just five minutes at the Stade de France, and the home side could not find an equaliser despite Kylian Mbappe returning to join Karim Benzema in the starting line-up
  • This clash was the latest meeting between the sides who contested the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow, although Mbappe, Modric and Marcelo Brozovic were the only players who started that day to line up at kick-off here

UEFA Nations League holders France continued their horrid run in this year's edition after they fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Croatia on Monday night.

Luka Modric’s early penalty gave Croatia the win over off-form France in Paris as the World Cup holders finished their June run of  Nations League matches without a victory in four outings.

Veteran Croatia captain Modric stroked in his spot-kick after just five minutes at the Stade de France, and the home side could not find an equaliser despite Kylian Mbappe returning to join Karim Benzema in the starting line-up.

France won the previous edition of the Nations League last year but they have managed just two points from their four outings this month, with home defeats against Denmark and now Croatia sandwiching draws away to the Croats and in Austria.

As a result, Les Bleus are bottom of League A, Group 1, seven points behind leaders Denmark who beat Austria 2-0 in Copenhagen on Monday with first-half goals by Jonas Wind and Andreas Skov Olsen.

Didier Deschamps’ team may now need to win their last two group games in September to avoid being relegated to the less glamorous League B.

Those matches are also the only games they have left before they begin their defence of the World Cup against Australia in Qatar in November.

This clash was the latest meeting between the sides who contested the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow, although Mbappe, Modric and Marcelo Brozovic were the only players who started that day to line up at kick-off here.

The last raft of Nations League matches before the curtain comes down on the European season will take place on Tuesday, when Germany take on Italy in Moenchengladbach in the standout game.