By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 22:20 GMT, 20 March 2025 | Updated: 22:21 GMT, 20 March 2025
Croatia contained the attacking duo of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in a 2-0 victory over France in the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinals Thursday.
Ante Budimir headed Croatia ahead in the 26th minute off a cross from Ivan Perisi´c with France goalkeeper Mike Maignan partially blocking the ball before it crossed the line.
Perisi´c doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time in Split to spoil Mbappé's return after a six-month absence from the national team.
Andrej Kramari´c's penalty in the eighth minute was saved by Maignan, who dived to the right but used his feet to make the stop.
Mbappé tested Dominik Livakovi´c with several shots in the first half but the Croatia goalkeeper produced some decent saves to deny him. Both Mbappé and Dembélé, the French league´s top scorer for Paris Saint-Germain, have already reached the 30-goal mark overall this season.
Mbappé, the Real Madrid star, captained Les Bleus in what was his first start for the national team since a 3-1 loss to Italy on Sept. 6.
France's Kylian Mbappe looks down during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and France, at the Poljud stadium in Split, Croatia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
The 26-year-old [Mbappé](https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/8566-mbappe-kylian/fiche.html) is third on France´s all-time scoring list with 48 goals, but he has found the net in only two of his past 13 international games.
In other first-leg quarterfinal matches, Germany came from behind to beat Italy 2-1, defending champion Spain salvaged a 2-2 draw against the 10-man Netherlands, and Denmark beat Portugal 1-0.
The winners will qualify for the four-team final tournament on June 4-8.
The second legs are scheduled for Sunday.
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France's Jules Kounde, top, fouls Croatia's Josko Gvardiol during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and France, at the Poljud stadium in Split, Croatia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
France's goalkeeper Mike Maignan fails to stop a header by Croatia's Ante Budimir during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and France, at the Poljud stadium in Split, Croatia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
France's Kylian Mbappe falls during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and France, at the Poljud stadium in Split, Croatia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Croatia's players celebrate their side's first goal, scored by Ante Budimir during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal soccer match between Croatia and France, at the Poljud stadium in Split, Croatia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Germany's David Raum, left, fights for the ball with Italy's Nicolo Barella during the soccer Nations League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Italy and Germany, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Italy's Sandro Tonali celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the soccer Nations League quarter final first leg soccer match between Italy and Germany in Milan, Italy, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)
Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, center, clears the ball during the soccer Nations League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Italy and Germany, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Netherlands' Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal first leg match between the Netherlands and Spain at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Spain's Nico Williams celebrates after scoring his side first goal during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal first leg match between the Netherlands and Spain at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Spain's Pedri, center, fails to score during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal first leg match between the Netherlands and Spain at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, second from left, reacts during the UEFA Nations League playoff match, League A, between Denmark and Portugal, at Parken in Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday, March 20, 2024. (Liselotte Sabroe/Scanpix 2025/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo lies on the pitch during the UEFA Nations League playoff match, League A, between Denmark and Portugal, at Parken in Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday, March 20, 2024. (Liselotte Sabroe/Scanpix 2025/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo speak during the UEFA Nations League playoff match, League A, between Denmark and Portugal, at Parken in Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday, March 20, 2024. (Liselotte Sabroe/Scanpix 2025/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)