MY ACCOUNT
Defending champions France have endured a difficult start to this year’s UEFA Nations League, but they will be hoping they can finally register their first win when Croatia visit the Stade de France on Monday night.
Things have not gone smoothly for Les Bleus over this international break, as they followed up an opening defeat to Denmark with back-to-back draws, including a 1-1 stalemate in Croatia last Sunday.
That poor run of results leaves the reigning World Champions bottom of League A Group 1 and in real danger of suffering a shock relegation from the top tier of the Nations League.
Croatia had been propping up the group prior to their eye-catching 1-0 win in Denmark on Friday, a result that will have undoubtedly boosted the confidence of Zlatko Dalic’s side ahead of their trip to the French capital.
Team news
France have had concerns surrounding the fitness of Kylian Mbappe during this international break, but the Paris Saint-Germain forward came off the bench to score a late equaliser against Austria on Friday and should now be fit enough to start.
Wissam Ben Yedder, Presnel Kimpembe, Matteo Guendouzi and Christopher Nkunku are among the other players pushing for recalls, although N’Golo Kante has pulled out of the squad due to a knee issue, while Lucas Hernandez will also be missing as his partner is due to give birth.
Croatia picked up no fresh fitness concerns during their victory over Denmark, but they remain without injured pair Ivan Perisic and Josko Gvardiol, while left backs Borna Barisic and Borna Sosa were also absent for the win in Copenhagen.
Josip Juranovic filled in at left back on Friday and is likely to do so once again, while there could be recalls to the starting XI for Domagoj Vida, Duje Caleta-Car, Mateo Kovacic and inspirational captain Luka Modric.
The stats
History certainly favours France in this fixture, as they are unbeaten in their nine previous meetings with Croatia, registering six wins, including a 4-2 success in the 2018 World Cup final.
Croatia have never beaten France and have only once avoided defeat to Les Bleus on French soil – a goalless draw in an international friendly back in 2011 – but Vatreni will head into this game having lost just one of their 12 matches since last summer’s Euros.
France were on a seven-match winning run prior to losing at home to Denmark at the start of this international break, with Didier Deschamps’ men now aiming to avoid back-to-back defeats on their own patch for the first time in almost a decade.
Predictions
This feels like a match that France almost have to win and the return to full fitness of Mbappe will certainly provide Deschamps’ side with a cutting edge they have been lacking in their opening group games.
Mbappe has averaged a goal a game for France this calendar year and looks a shoo-in to continue that record on Monday.
He has netted twice before against Croatia, including in the World Cup final four years ago.
Croatia’s form on the road has been good, with Dalic’s men winning their last four matches on their travels, but it is difficult to see them getting the better of France in this one.
There should be plenty of entertainment on offer in Paris though, as France have scored in each of their last 23 matches, but have only managed one clean sheet in five.
Croatia have struck 12 goals across their last four matches on the road and both teams look well placed to get on the scoresheet on Monday, although it is France that are likely to be celebrating come the final whistle.
