Paris, June 14 (BNA) Defending champion France failed to qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals when it lost 1-0 at home to Croatia, as it remained without any victory in the competition on Monday.
The world champion, who has so far lost twice and drawn twice, is at the bottom of Group A with two points, five points behind Croatia, who won thanks to an early penalty by Luka Modric, Reuters reported.
Denmark beat Austria 2-0 to remain at the top of the group with nine points, and France, who is in danger of relegation, cannot be overturned with two matches remaining in the group.
Austria is in third place with four points.
France coach Didier Deschamps reshaped his squad once again as he looked to rest players at the end of the season and in all four matches this month he hasn’t produced the best possible squad.
France appeared to lack ideas in the defeat to Denmark as well as the draws against Croatia and Austria before Monday’s loss to the team they defeated in the World Cup final four years ago.
Croatia took an early lead after five minutes when Modric scored a penalty after Ibrahim Konate fouled Ante Bodemir. This was Modric’s 22nd goal in 152 matches with Croatia.
Kylian Mbappe got two chances, but the visitors were the most threatening in the 17th minute through Josep Priicalo.
Deschamps made two changes at the end of the first half, bringing in Aurelien Chuamini for Boubacar Camara in midfield and Benjamin Pavard for Jules Conde on the right flank of defence.
Mbappe had two more chances, but Ivica Ivosic easily saved as Croatia dominated the match.
Antoine Griezmann replaced Matteo Guendouzi 10 minutes before the end of the match in a last-ditch effort by Deschamps to save a point.
But it proved in vain as France failed to score for the first time having scored in their previous 23 matches.
“June was a tough month in terms of results,” Deschamps said. “We didn’t have the energy and strength against the teams that had more than us.”
“We lost a little bit of self-confidence along the way but mostly it was the lack of freshness. When you play so many games it’s very difficult.”