In a disappointing display on March 20, 2025, France's national football team faced a substantial setback, losing 2-0 to Croatia in the Nations League. The performance has prompted stark criticism, particularly from former French international Bixente Lizarazu, who articulated his views following the match on TF1.
Lizarazu, a World Cup champion in 1998, did not shy away from highlighting the deficiencies he witnessed during the game. "Il va falloir un renversement, un ouragan, un match énorme mais c’est possible, c’est à la portée de l’Equipe de France," he declared, underlining the necessity for a dramatic turnaround in the upcoming match against Croatia at the Stade de France.
Indeed, Lizarazu's critique primarily focused on France's lack of aggression and energy, especially in the first half. He stated, "On est passés à côté, surtout en première période... On n’a pas existé," emphasizing that France's performance failed to meet the standards expected at such a competitive level.
The first half saw crucial goals from Croatia, particularly Budimir's opener, which Lizarazu analyzed critically. He noted the exquisite cross from Perisic, and described the goal, saying, "Le centre de Perisic est magnifique puis derrière, au premier poteau il y a le coup de tête de Budimir, où malheureusement Mike Maignan l’a touché mais avec l’effet du ballon ça rentre." This indicates that even with Maignan's touch, the combination of Budimir and the ball's spin proved too much for the French defense.
Lizarazu highlighted the quality of the Croatian players, remarking on Modric and Gvardiol’s contributions, stating, "Le but de Perisic est sublime. C’est là qu’on voit spécifiquement sur cette action que ça manque d’agressivité." This pointed to a clear gap in intensity and commitment from the French side, an aspect he believed was missing throughout the match.
While France slightly improved in the second half, the lack of finishing was concerning. Lizarazu pointed out the promising interactions between Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé but labeled the overall effort inadequate. "Les actions les plus dangereuses sont venues de ce duo mais la finition n’était pas là," he said, which further illustrates the frustration felt by the team and its fans regarding the inability to translate possession into goals.
Another significant moment Lizarazu reflected on was during the first half when Mike Maignan saved a penalty, an attempt marred by a laser pointed at his eyes just before the kick. He expressed uncertainty about whether this was a deliberate tactic aimed to disrupt the Croatian player, suggesting instead that it might have inadvertently served the Croatian as well. "Je ne sais pas s’il s’en est servi pour perturber le tireur croate... Cela a finalement plus perturbé le tireur croate et ce temps d’attente lui a servi," Lizarazu noted, pointing toward the bizarre nature of that moment in the match.
Lizarazu's analysis points toward a stark challenge ahead for France as they head into the return match. He firmly stated the need for significant improvements, proclaiming, "Quand tu perds autant de balles dans ton camp et que tu laisses Modrić dicter le tempo, tu ne peux pas gagner." This stark warning encapsulates the urgent need for a renewed focus and strategy for the French side.
As they prepare for their next home match at Stade de France, the stakes are clear: anything less than a commanding performance will not suffice to secure qualification for the Final Four. Lizarazu has called for a "grand match, de la variété et de l’agressivité," pressing for the team to display a much-improved attitude on the pitch.
Ultimately, this match against Croatia has ignited a firestorm of criticism and introspection. France must rise to the occasion, regroup, and be ready to deliver a robust performance. The road ahead won't be easy, but as Lizarazu emphasized, the potential to rebound lies within the team.
