The French national football team suffered a disappointing defeat against Croatia on March 20, 2025, losing 2-0 in the first leg of the Nations League quarter-finals. After a four-month break, the match in Split marked a brutal return to competition for the French team, who were notably absent particularly in the first half.
Ante Budimir opened the scoring for Croatia in the 26th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by the French side. Ivan Perisic doubled the advantage just before halftime with a stunning half-volley, leaving France facing a two-goal deficit going into the second half. The lack of aggression and technical awareness during the first half led to their undoing, as articulated by coach Didier Deschamps, who remarked, "Our first half cost us dearly. We made too many technical errors... They took advantage of the opportunities we gifted them."
Despite a better performance in the second half, where the French team showed improved energy and control, they could not break through the solid Croatian defense or capitalize on any chances. Deschamps remarked on their second half, acknowledging, "We had a better technical precision... but we still lacked efficiency." The French team’s efforts were somewhat subdued, constrained by fatigue and insufficient preparation time. Mike Maignan’s early save of a penalty taken by Andrei Kramaric maintained a glimmer of hope, but the team's overall play fell short of expectations, as reflected by their possession but lack of impactful shots on the target.
Lucas Digne stood out as one of the few positive performers for France, while Kylian Mbappé struggled to impose himself as he had in previous matches. Criticism circulated regarding the youthful dynamic of the team, especially with the reintegration of players like Ousmane Dembélé, who was noted for his lack of efficacy in front of the goal.
Looking ahead, the pressure is on France to turn the tide in the return leg at the Stade de France just three days later. The upcoming match against Croatia requires an agile response, as they need to secure at least a two-goal victory to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament. Deschamps indicated the seriousness of the situation, stating, "We need to improve a lot for the next match." This sentiment resonated through the team as indicated by players like Adrien Rabiot, who highlighted the necessity to reclaim their form in upcoming performances, noting, "We are not downhearted... It’s a two-legged affair, and we can overturn the deficit in Paris."
The French team, which came together only briefly for this international break, structures its formation around tactical proficiency and the need for immediate rejuvenation both mentally and physically. Players are expected to rally in the days leading to the match to ensure they perform to the best of their abilities. The challenge lies ahead, and with the backing of their home supporters, they aim to emerge stronger from this disappointing loss.
As the match approaches and the adrenaline surges, the question remains: can the French team channel their frustrations into a decisive comeback? All eyes will be on the Stade de France as fans and analysts await the outcome of the return fixture on March 23.
