Mounting a nail-biting Nations League comeback on Sunday night time, France edged their well beyond Croatia on penalties and formally booked their semi-final spot in Paris.
Marking their return to the French capital chasing a two-goal deficit following their shock first-leg defeat in Cut up on Thursday night time, Les Bleus had been backed by a passionate Stade de France.
Whereas Didier Deschamps’ aspect might need didn’t discover a breakthrough in the course of the first-half, Bayern Munich ace Michael Olise handed the previous world champions a deserved lead simply seven minutes after the restart.
Though Sunday’s hosts might need left it late, they did handle to tug themselves to extra-time because the red-hot Ousmane Dembele despatched the Stade de France into overdrive within the last 10 minuets.
With Les Bleus unable to finish their comeback within the further 30 minuets, Deschamps’ celebrity squad did drag themselves over the ending line from the penalty spot.
AC Milan shot-stopper Mike Maignan saved Martin Baturina’s opening try and Franjo Ivanovic blazed over because the hosts had the benefit just for each Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez to fluff their traces.
Nonetheless, with Maignan proving to be Deschamps’ hero, the 29-year-old denied Josip Stanisic effort earlier than Bayern Munich teammate Dayot Upamecano powered house the decisive spot-kick.
In what was a Nations League thriller from Paris on Sunday night time, we now have taken a take a look at the principle speaking factors.
Deschamps will get the end result he wanted
Whereas the French Soccer Federation might need given Deschamps their full backing following Les Blues’ World Cup last heartbreak again within the winter of 2023, the 56-year-old discovered extra strain on his shoulders following their first-leg journey to Cut up in midweek.
Falling to that 2-0 loss on international soil and marking their return to Paris on Sunday night time going through an actual uphill battle, Deschamps had made his exceptions clear.
Avoiding what would have been a significant Nations League exit right here, the previous Marseille boss will know that stability is vital going ahead this yr.
Signing off their League A journey by mustering 13 factors from their last 5 group stage appearances, Sunday’s hosts will now have their sights set on what will likely be a heavyweight semi-final showdown towards Spain in June.
Dragging themselves over the ending line on house soil, Deschamps subsequent massive problem will likely be on how he can get the most effective out of skipper Kylian Mbappe.
Dembele dazzles once more in Paris
Finishing a everlasting transfer to the French capital final summer season after agreeing a £43.5million transfer from Barcelona, Dembele has launched into a outstanding rise since returning to his homeland.
Spearheading PSG’s cost to the Champions League quarter-finals earlier within the month after overcoming Premier League giants Liverpool, the 27-year-old has solely additional underlined his standing as one in every of Europe’s hottest stars in 2025.
Discovering the web right here and bagging a late strike to equal the scoreline on mixture, the one-time Borussia Dortmund ace has loved a outstanding begin to the New Yr.
Heading into March’s worldwide break with a objective towards Marseille on March sixteenth, Dembele has registered an astonishing 23 objectives for membership and nation since getting back from France’s festive interval.
Seeking to drag PSG to a well-known European and home sweep this season, Dembele has rapidly blossomed into one of many Key elements of Deschamps’ squad heading into subsequent yr’s World Cup.
Croatia fall quick as soon as once more
Springing what was an upset in Cut up on Thursday night time as they claimed what seemed to be an important 2-0 first-leg victory, Croatia travelled to Paris trying to gather a heavyweight scalp.
Nonetheless, in what was a repeat of the 2018 World Cup last, the Blazers as soon as once more fell quick as they suffered extra public heartbreak beneath the intense lights.
Enduring a public EURO 24 nightmare final summer season as they didn’t win any of their three group stage appearances, Zlatko Dalic’s aspect have drastically failed to search out any latest stability.
With their ageing squad trying like they’re lastly beginning to run out of legs, Croatia have now received only a trio of their earlier 11 aggressive appearances throughout all competitions.
Set to get their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign underway in June, Dalic can have loads of questions that want answering forward of what might be a new-look squad.
Match Report
France: Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez, Tchouameni, Kone, Dembele, Olies, Barcola, Mbappe
Subs: Zaire-Emery, Doue, Camavinga, Kolo Muani
Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Caleta-Automobile, Gvardiol, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic, Sucic, Kramaric, Budimir
Subs: Jakic, Moro, Baturina, Pongracic
Objectives: Olise (52’), Dembele (80’)
Yellow Playing cards: France: Mbappe, Kolo Muani – Croatia: Kovacic, Caleta-Automobile, Gvardiol, Livakovic
Purple Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Michael Oliver
