Croatia secures victory over France, spoiling Mbappé's return

In March 2023, Croatia hosted France in Split for the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinals. The match began with a missed penalty from Croatia's Andrej Kramaric, saved by French goalkeeper Mike Maignan. However, Croatia quickly took control of the game, with Ante Budimir netting the opening goal in the 26th minute, following a partially blocked header that trickled over the line. Croatia further solidified their lead just before halftime when Ivan Perisic scored with a well-placed volley from inside the penalty area. The Croatian defense held strong against France's attempts to respond, with goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic making several critical saves, particularly against star player Kylian Mbappé, who was returning after a six-month absence. The French side, despite enjoying the majority of possession, struggled to convert opportunities into goals, emphasizing their lack of sharpness during the match. Coach Didier Deschamps expressed disappointment at his team's performance, highlighting a need for improvement ahead of the second leg in Paris, which was set to take place shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, Croatia's victory positioned them favorably for the upcoming semifinal against either Spain or the Netherlands.