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| Luka Modric of Croatia and Kylian Mbappe of France fight for possession during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 1 match between France and Croatia at Stade de France on June 13, 2022 in Paris, France. |
Defending champions France have lost their Nations League
title and face the dim prospect of relegation after losing 1-0 at home to
Croatia.
The visitors scored with a fifth-minute penalty from
standout midfielder Luka Modric at the Stade de France on Monday night. It is
where he played so commandingly for Champions League winners Real Madrid in the
final just over two weeks ago, and he belied his advancing years with a display
full of astute passing and clever movement into space.
In Copenhagen meanwhile, goals by Jonas Older Wind and
Andreas Skov Olsen saw group leaders Denmark beat Austria and boost their Final
Four bid.
The Danes have nine points, two more than second-placed
Croatia with only the group winner going through. Austria are third with four
points and rock-bottom France have two after a fourth game without a win. The
team in last place are relegated.
“It was a difficult month of June in terms of
results. We did not have the energy and the strength against teams who had more
than us,” Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps said.“We lost a bit of self-confidence along the way but
it’s mostly freshness that we lacked. When you play so many games it is very
very hard.”
Deschamps finally dropped first-choice forward Antoine
Griezmann, who has not scored for the team since early January, and instead
selected Christopher Nkunku in attack alongside Karim Benzema and Kylian
Mbappe.
Benzema went close midway through the second half as
France found more space and Griezmann received a loud ovation when he came on
for the last 10 minutes.
Benzema had an added-time header well saved by goalkeeper
Ivica Ivusic as French hopes evaporated.
France beat Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 World Cup final but
the Croats were better on the night against a French side lacking intensity in
midfield.
Croatia’s fans chanted, “Luka, Luka,” to their
inspirational captain as he gave them a thumbs up after the game.
In Group B2, leaders Israel twice came from behind to
draw in Iceland 2-2.
Kazakhstan took control of Group C3 after beating
Slovakia 2-1 at home to move onto 10 points. They’re four ahead of the Slovaks
in second spot while Azerbaijan beat visiting Belarus 2-0 in the other game.
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