Croatia welcomes France in their backyard with both tasting salty defeats in their opening game of the 2022/23 Nations League campaign. They also met each other in the group stages of the tournament last season. a
Les Bleus suffered a shock defeat at home to a solid Denmark team while Croatia were obliterated by an Austrian side under new management.
CRO vs FRA UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Details
Date: Sunday 6th June 2022/ Monday 7th June 2022
Time: 20:45 (CET)/ 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Stadion Poljud, Split
CRT vs FRA UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Preview
Like all other nations in Europe at the FIFA World Cup, Zlatko Dalic’s men are using the Nations League as a preparatory tournament for the event in Qatar in November. The start of it was defiantly not the ideal one they wished for. Austria now under Ralf Rangnick, who left the interim manager as well as consultant role at Manchester United, handing Croatia their biggest loss in the Nations League. This is also the first time the Vatreni lost to them in the six clashes so far. The manner of the defeat will hit them hard as Croatia failed to capitalize on their chances while Austria took theirs with strikes from Marko Arnautovic, Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer sealing a 3-0 win. They have now lost three home games in a row in the Nations League. This year Croatia haven’t been at their usual self with one victory in three games that too with a late comeback win over Bulgaria. Zlatko Dalic’s men now have to count their fortunes against the world champions when they visit the town albeit their opposition carrying a loss too. France will once again cross their path on either side of Denmark again as the Croats face a daunting schedule in the tournament this month.
The 2-1 loss felt more than a defence. Resilient Denmark came back from a goal down to end Les Bleus's 22 games unbeaten streak. It was a tough pill to swallow for Didier Descamps’s men who are using this tournament to build a strong foundation inside the squad before travelling to Qatar to defend their World Cup crown. France had the dominance on the ball as the Danes kept it tight at the back and hit them on the counter. After both sides came close in the first half, Balon d’Or favourite Karim Benzema broke the deadlock with sheer artistry at his feet in the second period. However, Denmark unleashed their weapon in Andreas Cornelius from the bench after conceding whose emphatic brace left France humiliated in front of their home support. France lost Raphael
Varane and Kylian Mbappe at that moment through injury. It’s the Manchester United man's absence that cost the most in the end. Deschamps feels his presence in the dugout after missing out on the first game due to personal reasons will spearhead his side to return back to winning ways. France will take inspiration from their win in both games against Croatia in the last Nations League.
Recent Form
Croatia: LWWWW
France: LWDWW
CRT vs FRA UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Team News
Luka Modric came off the bench against Austria but should be ready to start this pivotal fixture. Now signed from Tottenham from Inter on a free transfer, Ivan Perisic missed the opening game with an injury which makes him a doubt for this game. A similar situation involves Josko Gvardiol and Sime Vrsaljko who are nursing their injury issues. Croatia are expected to field a strong side this time out.
Raphael Varane has left the French camp after surviving for 60 minutes in the defeat against Denmark and has been replaced by Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate who earns his first call up to the senior national team. France seemed to have suffered another blow with Kylian Mbappe also taken off at half-time for Christopher Nkunku reportedly due to a knee injury. He is a major doubt against Croatia. The Leipzig star delivered his first assist in the nation shirt and will replace him in the eleven. Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante could be given a rest with Adrien Rabiot partnering the impressive Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
Expected Lineups
Croatia: Dominik Livakovic; Duje Caleta-Car, Domagoj Vida, Josip Juranovic, Borna Barisic; Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic; Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic, Mislav Orsic; Andrej Kramaric
France: Hugo Lloris; Lucas Hernandez, William Saliba, Jules Kounde; Jonathan Clauss, Theo Hernandez, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni; Antoine Griezmann, Christopher Nkunku, Karim Benzema
CRT vs FRA Head to head
France won the double header over Croatia in the Nations League last season winning 4-2 at home and then 2-1 in Zagreb. Antoine Griezmann was on the scoresheet on both occasions as France went on in the tournament to secure the title. Those defeats continued Croatia’s search for their first victory over Les Bleus after managing to share points only twice in eight meetings so far. Although Croatia have scored in each of their last three meetings in this fixture.
CRT vs FRA Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Lloris (8.5)
DEF: Kounde (8.5), L. Hernandez (8.5), Caleta-Car (9), T. Hernandez (8.5)
MID: Pasalic (8.5), Modric (10), Tchouameni (8), Griezmann (9.5)
FW: Kramaric (9.5), Benzema (10.5)
