Mounting a nail-biting Nations League comeback on Sunday night, France edged their way past Croatia on penalties and officially 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 Split on Thursday night, Les Bleus were backed by a passionate Stade de France.
While Didier Deschamps’ side might have failed to find a breakthrough during the first-half, Bayern Munich ace Michael Olise handed the former world champions a deserved lead just seven minutes after the restart.
Although Sunday’s hosts might have left it late, they did manage to drag themselves to extra-time as the red-hot Ousmane Dembele sent the Stade de France into overdrive in the final 10 minuets.
With Les Bleus unable to complete their comeback in the additional 30 minuets, Deschamps’ superstar squad did drag themselves over the finishing line from the penalty spot.
AC Milan shot-stopper Mike Maignan saved Martin Baturina’s opening attempt and Franjo Ivanovic blazed over as the hosts had the advantage only for both Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez to fluff their lines.
However, with Maignan proving to be Deschamps’ hero, the 29-year-old denied Josip Stanisic effort before Bayern Munich teammate Dayot Upamecano powered home the decisive spot-kick.
In what was a Nations League thriller from Paris on Sunday night, we have taken a look at the main talking points.
Deschamps gets the result he needed
While the French Football Federation might have given Deschamps their full backing following Les Blues’ World Cup final heartbreak back in the winter of 2023, the 56-year-old found more pressure on his shoulders following their first-leg trip to Split in midweek.
Falling to that 2-0 loss on foreign soil and marking their return to Paris on Sunday night facing a real uphill battle, Deschamps had made his exceptions clear.
Avoiding what would have been a major Nations League exit here, the former Marseille boss will know that stability is key going forward this year.
Signing off their League A adventure by mustering 13 points from their final five group stage appearances, Sunday’s hosts will now have their sights set on what will be a heavyweight semi-final showdown against Spain in June.
Dragging themselves over the finishing line on home soil, Deschamps next big challenge will be on how he can get the best out of skipper Kylian Mbappe.
Dembele dazzles again in Paris
Completing a permanent move to the French capital last summer after agreeing a £43.5million move from Barcelona, Dembele has embarked on a remarkable rise since returning to his homeland.
Spearheading PSG’s charge to the Champions League quarter-finals earlier in the month after overcoming Premier League giants Liverpool, the 27-year-old has only further underlined his status as one of Europe’s hottest stars in 2025.
Finding the net here and bagging a late strike to equal the scoreline on aggregate, the one-time Borussia Dortmund ace has enjoyed a remarkable start to the New Year.
Heading into March’s international break with a goal against Marseille on March 16th, Dembele has registered an astonishing 23 goals for club and country since returning from France’s festive interval.
Looking to drag PSG to a famous European and domestic sweep this season, Dembele has quickly blossomed into one of the Key parts of Deschamps’ squad heading into next year’s World Cup.
Croatia fall short once again
Springing what was an upset in Split on Thursday night as they claimed what appeared to be a crucial 2-0 first-leg victory, Croatia travelled to Paris looking to collect a heavyweight scalp.
However, in what was a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final, the Blazers once again fell short as they suffered more public heartbreak under the bright lights.
Enduring a public EURO 24 nightmare last summer as they failed to win any of their three group stage appearances, Zlatko Dalic’s side have drastically failed to find any recent stability.
With their ageing squad looking like they are finally starting to run out of legs, Croatia have now won just a trio of their previous 11 competitive appearances across all competitions.
Set to get their World Cup qualifying campaign underway in June, Dalic will have plenty of questions that need answering ahead of what could 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-Car, Gvardiol, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic, Sucic, Kramaric, Budimir
Subs: Jakic, Moro, Baturina, Pongracic
Goals: Olise (52’), Dembele (80’)
Yellow Cards: France: Mbappe, Kolo Muani – Croatia: Kovacic, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol, Livakovic
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Michael Oliver
