France pulled off a brilliant comeback to defeat Croatia on penalties and secure their place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. After trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Les Bleus won 2-0 in normal time in Paris, and then clinched a 5-4 victory in the penalty shootout.
France Wipes Out First-Leg Deficit
At the packed Stade de France, the hosts came out strong. Michael Olise scored the opening goal, and Ousmane Dembele added another, bringing the aggregate score to 2-2.
The match went to extra time with no additional goals. In the penalty shootout, goalkeeper Mike Maignan became the hero by saving two penalties from Martin Baturina and Josip Stanisic.
Nail-Biting Penalty Drama
The shootout wasn’t without tension — Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez missed their chances for France. But Dayot Upamecano, taking the seventh penalty for his team, calmly slotted the ball home to seal victory, setting off wild celebrations among the players and fans.
Next Stop: Semi-Final Against Spain
France, who won the Nations League title in 2021, will now face defending champions Spain in the semi-final on June 5 in Germany. The winner of that match will play in the final on June 8.
As for Croatia, after this heartbreaking defeat, they will turn their focus to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers starting in June.
Match Stats
| Category | France | Croatia |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 61.6% | 38.4% |
| Shots on Goal | 8 | 0 |
| Total Attempts | 28 | 5 |
| Fouls | 14 | 24 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 6 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corner Kicks | 16 | 0 |
| Saves | 0 | 6 |
Key Moments Recap
✅ Olise and Dembele score to make it 2-0 (aggregate 2-2)
✅ No goals in extra time — game goes to penalties
✅ Mike Maignan saves two penalty shots for France
✅ Upamecano scores the winning penalty
France once again proved their strength and fighting spirit in front of over 77,000 fans. Now, all eyes are on their big semi-final clash with Spain.
Can France reclaim the Nations League title? We’ll find out soon!
