With a comeback for the league of claw-biting countries on Sunday night, France was bordered by Croatia on a penalty, officially booking Paris’ semi-final spots.
After a first-foot defeat that shocked the split on Thursday night, Les Bruce marked his return to the French capital after a two-goal deficit, was supported by a passionate Stade de France.
Didier Deschamps’ side may not have found a breakthrough in the first half, but Bayern Munich ace Michael Oris handed the deserved lead to the former world champion just seven minutes after the reboot.
The hosts on Sunday may have delayed that, but they managed to send Stade de France overdrive in the final 10 minutes by a red-hot Osmane Dembele.
Deschamps’ Superstar Squad dragged from the penalty spot to the finish line as Les Bleus failed to complete his comeback in an additional 30 minutes.
AC Milan shot stopper Mike Maignan saved Martin Batrina’s opening attempt, and Franjo Ivanovic was on fire as both Jules Kaunde and Theo Hernandez had the advantage just to flapping their lines.
However, after proving that Maignan is Deschamps’ hero, the 29-year-old denied Josip Stanisic’s efforts before Bayern Munich’s teammate Upamecano was driven.
With the Paris Nations League thriller on Sunday night, we’ve seen the main topics.
Deschamps get the results he needs
The French Football Federation may have given Deschamps full support following Les Bruce’s final World Cup breakup in the winter of 2023, but the 56-year-old put more pressure on his shoulder after his first trip to split up mid-week.
Facing a real difficult battle in the fall of 2-0 losses in foreign soil and returning to Paris on Sunday night, Deschamps made his exception clear.
Avoiding what was the main Nations League exit here, the former Marseille boss will know that stability this year is important.
They sign their league and venture out by summoning 13 points from their final five group stage appearances. Sunday’s hosts will aim for what will be the heavyweight semi-final showdown against Spain in June.
The next big challenge for Deschamps is how to get the most out of skipper Kylian Mbappe, dragging him into the finish line in his hometown soil.
Dembele is captivated again in Paris
After agreeing to a £43.5 million move from Barcelona last summer, Dembele has embarked on an astonishing rise since returning to his hometown.
After overcoming Premier League Giants Liverpool, leading the charges for the Champions League quarterfinals at the beginning of the month, the 27-year-old further highlighted his position as one of Europe’s hottest stars in 2025.
Find the net here and bagged slow strikes for a full attack, the former Borussia Dortmund Ace enjoyed an astonishing start to the New Year.
Heading towards the international break in March with a goal against Marseille on March 16, Dembele has registered an astonishing 23 goals for the club and country since returning from the interval of French celebrations.
This season, when they tried to drag PSG into the famous European and domestic sweep, Dembele quickly blossomed into one of the key parts of the Deschamps team heading for next year’s World Cup.
Croatia is in short supply again
As things erupted in the split on Thursday night, they insisted what appears to be an important 2-0 first parliament victory, Croatia traveled to Paris to gather heavyweight scalps.
However, as it was a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final, the Blazers were struggling with more public heartbreak under bright light, again shortage.
Last summer, Zlatokodaric’s side was unable to find the stability of recent times, enduring the public Euro 24 Nightmare last summer, as they didn’t win one of the three group stage appearances.
Their aging teams seem to finally start to lack their legs, so Croatia has now won a trio of previous 11 competitive appearances across all competitions.
Dalic, which is set to launch its World Cup qualifying campaign in June, has plenty of questions that need to be answered before anything that could become a new look team.
Match Report
France: Mainyan, Kound, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez, Chameni, Cone, Dembele, Olize, Barcola, MBappe
submarine: Zairre-Emerary, Doue, Camaviga, Colorado Muanic
Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic, Sucic, Kramaric, Budimir
submarine: Jakic, Moro, Baturin, Pongracic
the goal: Oris (52′), Dembele (80′)
Yellow Card: France: Mbappe, Kolo Muani-Croatia: Kovic, Caleta-Car, Gvardol, Livakovic
Red card: n/a
Judgment: Michael Oliver