It was meant to be a night of celebration for Kylian Mbappe, making his long-awaited return to international soccer. But instead, it turned into a frustrating evening as Luka Modric’s Croatia outclassed France in a 2-0 victory in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg.
While France struggled to break down a resilient Croatian defense, Modric and Mbappe found themselves in an unexpected exchange late in the match. The veteran midfielder shouted at his future Real Madrid teammate after a theatrical fall, seemingly telling the French forward to stop diving. It was a moment of friendly banter, but also a reflection of the intensity between two top-class competitors.
Croatia took control early in the match, and Modric was at the heart of everything. The 38-year-old controlled the tempo and was involved in the build-up to the opening goal in the 26th minute. His perfectly lofted pass found Ivan Perisic, who crossed for Ante Budimir to head home.
Just before halftime, the Checkered Ones doubled their lead in spectacular fashion. Perisic, turning from provider to goalscorer, unleashed a thunderous right-footed volley into the back of the net after William Saliba’s clearance fell into his path. With a 2-0 lead at halftime, Croatia was in command, while Les Bleus were left frustrated.
Mbappe’s comeback ends in frustration
Mbappe, playing his first international match in over six months, was France’s biggest threat. He had an early effort saved by Dominik Livakovic and continued to test the Croatian keeper throughout the night. But no matter what the Real Madrid forward tried, he simply could not find a way past the inspired shot-stopper.
Livaković’s best moment came late in the second half, when Mbappe looked certain to score, only for the home shot-stopper to produce a stunning reflex save to deny him. The 26-year-old superstar created four key chances and had four shots on target, but it was just one of those nights where nothing seemed to go his way.
Sparks fly between Modric and Mbappe
Despite the mutual respect between the two players, Modric and Mbappe had a brief on-field clash late in the game. In the 88th minute, Mbappe went down inside the box, hoping to win a late penalty or free kick. But instead of sympathy, he was met with the veteran’s animated response, telling him to get back up.
While it was a heated moment, it was also a reminder of the 39-year-old’s no-nonsense attitude and leadership. The Croatian captain wasn’t about to let his future club teammate dictate the game on his terms.
