Defending champions France lost their Nations League title and faced the prospect of relegation after a 1-0 loss to Croatia on Monday.
Meanwhile, Denmark, the leader of their group, boosted their last four bid by defeating Austria 2–0.
Denmark have nine points, two more than second-placed Croatia, with only the group winner going. Austria was third with four points and rock-bottom France had two without a win in the fourth game. The team in last place is eliminated.
Croatia scored with a fifth-minute penalty from standout midfielder Luka Modric at the Stade de France. This is where he played such a great role for Champions League winners Real Madrid in the final just two weeks ago, and he believed in his advancing years with a performance full of deft passing and clever movement in the space.
Croatia fans chanted “Luka, Luka” for their inspiring captain as he gave him a thumbs up after the game.
In Copenhagen, wide forward Jonas Older Wind and Andreas Skov Olsen scored for Denmark in the first half.
Croatia hosts Denmark in a table-topping clash on 22 September.
France coach Didier Deschamps eventually dropped first-choice Antoine Griezmann, who has not scored for the team since early January, and instead selected Christopher Nkunku in the attack along with Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe.
It was a clever pass from Nkunku that set up Mbappe’s late equalizer in a 1-1 draw in Austria on Friday.
Perhaps to wake up the players, the band stopped playing at the beginning of “La Marseillaise” and most of the 77,400 crowd at the Stade de France sang it in a cappella style.
Home fans calmed down as Croatia won the penalty after Ibrahima Konate fouled Josip Brakalo for a penalty.
Mike Magnon started in the first goal from long-serving No. 1 Hugo Lloris and guessed correctly but he could not stop a powerful strike from the left corner arrow Modric.
France beat Croatia 4-2 in 2018 World Cup Final but the Croats were better on the night against a French side that lacked intensity in midfield. Led by 36-year-old Modric’s craft, Croatia’s midfield skillfully cut the supply line to advance Benzema and Mbappe.
Benzema passed in the middle of the second half as France got more space and Griezmann received a loud ovation when it came to the final 10 minutes.
Benzema had a well-saved injury-time header by goalkeeper Ivica Ivusic as French hopes evaporated.
A young man ran onto the field at the final whistle and ran towards Benzema, forcing security to intervene, but Benzema hugged the boy, removed his jersey and handed him over.
other sports
In League B, Group 2 leader Israel came from behind twice and drew Iceland 2–2.
In League C, Kazakhstan took control of Group 3 by defeating Slovakia 2–1 at home and went four points ahead of second-placed Slovak on 10 points.
In the second game, Azerbaijan beat Belarus 2–0 at home.
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