UEFA Nations League: It Starts Here For Croatia and France

Croatia vs France

France head to the Stadion Poljud in Split to take on Croatia in a UEFA Nations League clash on Monday, and it’s a game in which both teams are hoping to get their 2022/23 campaign off the mark.  

This game is a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final and it isn’t a match we expected to be between the two bottom teams in Group A, but that’s where we are.

Zlatco Dalic’s Croatia started the competition with a 3-0 defeat at home to Austria on Friday while France were beaten by Denmark in Paris.

Didier Deschamps Les Bleus’ are one of the tournament favourites and the UEFA Nations League 2022 betting odds back the World Champions to get back to winning ways. But they face an experienced side which is smarting itself and hoping to make amends in front of their own fans by giving them UEFA Nations League 2022 highlights on Monday.

Talking Points

Toothless Croatia made to pay

Croatia have been one of the best international sides of the past few years and have been blessed by the finest creative talents. But on Friday against Austria, they were undone by a team which was simply more clinical.

The Croats had over 60-per cent possession, but no more shots on goal than Austria as the visitors registered eight shots to three on target.

A goal from Marko Arnautovic just before the break and strikes from Michael Gregoritsch and Marcel Sabitzer early in the second half ended any Croatian hopes of a winning start and the introduction of Luka Modric on 58 minutes, with the score already at 3-0, was too late to make an impact and Austria finished the stronger. 

Croatia, skippered by Chelsea midfield ace Mateo Kovacic, is still a side packed with quality. With Modric likely to come into this game against the French and Inter’s Marcelo Brozovic alongside, they have one of the best midfield trios in the competition.

Now they need to translate the ability to keep the ball into goals.        

False start for Les Bleus

While Croatia suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Austria, France too had an opening day shock as a battling Denmark came from behind at the Stade de France to win 2-1.

Les Bleus had plenty of possession, almost 60-per cent and 19 shots to Denmark’s eight, though the on-target stat of six to five tells us why Deschamps’ side didn’t put the game to bed and why the Danes were always in with a chance.

Karim Benzema thought he’d scored in the first half but his effort was ruled narrowly offside, but the prolific Real Madrid man did get his goal on 51 minutes playing a one-two with Christopher Nkunku before beating two Danish defenders and slotting home.

Denmark substitute Andreas Cornelius then stunned the fans packed into the Stade de France as he leveled on 66 minutes. Then with two minutes left on the clock, he latched on to a through ball and smashed the winner beyond Hugo Lloris and into the top corner of the net.

So Deschamps has work to do to get his side back in contention in Group A and in preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they are one of the most fancied teams and have a great chance to retain their world crown.

It may be that Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe sits this one out after being replaced by Nkunku at half-time on Friday. The RB Leipzig forward did well when he came on against Denmark and he has had a superb Bundesliga season so he could be in line for a start.   

History

These two nations have met four times and France have won all of them, most famously in the 2018 World Cup final when Kylian Mbappe rounded off a thrilling 4-2 victory for Les Bleus. Since then, Croatia have suffered twice at the hands of Les Bleus, losing two 2020/21 Nations League games by 4-2 and 2-1.    

Their head-to-heads are very much in the visitors’ favour and, in terms of recent form too, France have a clear edge with five wins from the last six games, while Croatia have won three from their last six outings.  

Les Bleus’ defeat at the hands of Denmark ended a run of five consecutive wins and France are unbeaten in 11 matches away from home.

Betting Tip

Croatia have an uphill battle on Monday with the latest SBOTOP odds pricing the hosts at 3.40 to win and 3.30 to draw, while Les Bleus are odds on at 1.96 to get their tournament up and running. This promises to be an entertaining clash and I think we’ll see goals as both teams try to get their campaign back on track.

 

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