France will attempt an impressive comeback against Croatia in Sunday’s UEFA Nations League semifinal second leg.
Les Bleus were beaten 2-0 in Thursday’s opening game of the quarterfinal tie, Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic securing the win despite an earlier missed penalty from Andrej Kramaric.
These two met in the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and France will need a similar scoreline to keep their hopes of reaching the semis alive. Didier Deschamps’ team won 4-2 in Moscow seven years ago and need another two-goal victory in Paris to force extra time at the very least.
Recent history is not on their side, however. Having gone unbeaten in their first eight meetings with Croatia stretching back to 1998, France have lost two in a row without scoring a goal.
The Sporting News looks at the latest predicted lineups and team news for this game.
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France vs. Croatia lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Deschamps confirmed on Saturday that Adrien Rabiot is struggling with a calf problem and is a doubt for Sunday’s game. Otherwise, his squad boasts a clean bill of health.
The coach had already stated he would make changes for this second leg after admitting “fatigue caught up with us” in the second half of the first game.
Dayot Upamecano, a substitute on Thursday, could come into the defence alongside Theo Hernandez. Manu Kone and Eduardo Camavinga are options to replace the injured Rabiot and Matteo Guendouzi, while Bradley Barcola may get the nod in attack in place of Randal Kolo Muani.
France predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Maignan (GK) — Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez — Kone, Tchouameni, Camavinga — Dembele, Barcola, Mbappe
Injured: Rabiot (calf, doubt)
Full France squad
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Mike Maignan, Brice Samba
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss, Lucas Digne, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Matteo Guendouzi, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise.
Sportske Novosti reported that Luka Modric played through illness in the first leg but, since he was on pre-match media duties on Saturday, it’s pretty likely he will start Sunday’s game.
Zlatko Dalic is not expected to make too many changes to the side that performed so well on Thursday. Nikola Vlasic is an option to come in on the wing in place of Ivan Perisic if the 36-year-old requires a little more rest.
Croatia predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Livakovic (GK) — Stanisic, Caleta-Car, Sutalo, Gvardiol — Modric, Kovacic — Perisic, Baturina, Kramaric — Budimir
Full Croatia squad
Goalkeepers: Ivica Ivusic, Dominik Kotarski, Dominik Livakovic
Defenders: Duje Caleta-Car, Josko Gvardiol, Josip Juranovic, Marin Pongracic, Borna Sosa, Josip Sutalo
Midfielders: Martin Baturina, Toni Fruk, Kristijan Jakic, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Nikola Moro, Mario Pasalic, Petar Sucic, Nikola Vlasic
Forwards: Ante Budimir, Franjo Ivanovic, Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Perisic.
France vs. Croatia live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this UEFA Nations League quarterfinal across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | — | Fubo USA, ViX |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | — | bet365* |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | Sony TEN 1 | Tony LIV, JioTV |
*Requires account with funds/bet placed
