Ante Budimir celebrates scoring for Croatia against FranceGetty Images
Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist
France captain Kylian Mbappe's return to the national side ended in a shock defeat against Croatia in their Nations League quarter-final first leg.
Ante Budimir's header bounced off France goalkeeper Mike Maignan and spun into the net as the hosts took a 26th-minute lead.
Former Tottenham winger Ivan Persic fired home a crisp finish into the bottom corner to increase their advantage in first-half added time.
Croatia could have been ahead earlier, but Andrej Kramaric's eighth-minute penalty was saved by Maignan with his feet, while Josko Gvardiol's powerful shot from long range was also kept out by the AC Milan keeper.
France now face a tough task to turn the tie around in Sunday's second leg at the Stade de France (19:45 GMT).
They have failed to win any of their last three matches when conceding first in the Nations League, since a victory over Spain in October 2021.
Mbappe, who has scored 20 La Liga goals in his debut season for Real Madrid, made his return to the French side after a six-month absence.
But he not could not inspire them, despite having six shots in the match.
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Player of the match
I. Perišić
8.18
Croatia
France
14I. Perišić
8.18
11A. Budimir
8.06
16M. Baturina
7.53
1D. Livaković
7.33
6J. Šutalo
7.28
10L. Modrić
7.27
8M. Kovačić
7.11
4J. Gvardiol
7.00
5D. Ćaleta-Car
7.00
2J. Stanišić
7.00
9A. Kramarić
6.94
20F. Ivanović
6.73
15M. Pašalić
6.64
21P. Sučić
6.09
13N. Vlašić
5.40
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5J. Koundé
5.94
17W. Saliba
5.90
11M. Olise
5.83
12R. Kolo Muani
5.67
8A. Tchouaméni
5.56
7O. Dembélé
5.53
3L. Digne
5.28
14A. Rabiot
5.27
15I. Konaté
5.10
19M. Guendouzi
5.06
6E. Camavinga
4.91
4D. Upamecano
4.79
10K. Mbappé
4.71
20B. Barcola
4.55
13M. Koné
4.36
16M. Maignan
3.76
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After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
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Croatia
European Football
France
Football