Croatia 2-0 France: Perisic stars in stunning Nations League win

Ivan Perisic rolled back the years with a goal and an assist to help Croatia take control of their Nations League quarter-final with France after a 2-0 win in the first leg.

Perisic, making his 141st appearance for his country, set up Ante Budimir for the opener before netting his 34th international goal with a brilliant finish.

Croatia were handed a golden chance to take the lead in the eighth minute when a ball into the box was handled by Ibrahima Konate, a decision that was confirmed by VAR.

Andrej Kramaric assumed responsibility for the spot-kick, but his tame strike down the middle was saved by the legs of Mike Maignan, who had delayed the taking of the penalty.

Croatia, however, would get themselves in front soon after, with Maignan once again involved.

A teasing cross into the area from Perisic was headed towards goal by Budimir. Though Maignan got his hand to the effort, the ball spun into the back of the net off the post.

The hosts felt they should have been awarded another penalty just before the break when Budimir took a tumble under William Saliba's challenge, though those appeals were waved away.

But in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Perisic rifled Croatia two goals ahead with a fine half-volley into the bottom-left corner, following Martin Baturina's blocked effort.

France improved after the break, though. Kylian Mbappe fired an incisive pass into Ousmane Dembele in the box, but the Paris Saint-Germain forward found the side netting.

Dembele continued to look like Les Bleus' most threatening player, forcing Dominik Livakovic into a save from a volley before sending a strike narrowly past the near post.

Livakovic was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the second half, and he had to be on his toes to prevent Mbappe's curling effort from creeping in.

But Didier Deschamps' side were unable to make their pressure count, with France now having it all to do in the second leg at the Stade de France this Sunday.

Data Debrief: Perisic helps Croatia go back-to-back

In what was the first meeting between the two sides since Croatia beat France 1-0 in the 2022 edition of the Nations League, an inspired display led Zlatko Dalic's side to back-to-back victories over Les Bleus for the first time in their history.

They were led by Perisic, who became the first player to grab a goal and an assist in the same match against France since England's Wayne Rooney back in November 2015.

Though France accumulated a higher expected goals (xG) total of 1.56 to Croatia's 1.43, they were limited to just six shots on target from the 17 they attempted, with substitute Bradley Barcola missing the visitors' only 'big' chance in the contest, as defined by Opta.