France see off Croatia on penalties to reach Nations League final four

Mike Maignan saved two penalties to earn France a dramatic 5-4 shoot-out win over Croatia and advance to the semi-finals of the Nations League.

Michael Olise’s brilliant free-kick seven minutes after half-time and Ousmane Dembele’s seventh goal for his country with 10 minutes remaining helped France send the game into extra-time after a 2-0 first-leg loss in Croatia.

After missed spot-kicks from Croatia duo Martin Baturina and Franjo Ivanovic, as well as France pair Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez, Maignan proved to be the hero by stopping Josip Stanisic’s effort in sudden death before Dayot Upamecano scored.

As expected being two goals down on aggregate, France dominated the early proceedings and Kylian Mbappe came closest with a snapshot that flew wide of the far post.

Dominik Livakovic was brought into action for the first time in the 38th minute when Olise’s perfectly-weighted pass found Bradley Barcola but he was denied brilliantly by the goalkeeper from close range.

It was all one-way traffic in the first period, with William Saliba unable to connect with a header from a free-kick as referee Michael Oliver blew for half-time.

France halved the aggregate deficit in the 52nd minute in style.

Duje Caleta-Car tripped Mbappe outside the box and Olise stepped up and bent a free-kick into the back of the net past Livakovic.

Mbappe blew a chance to haul his side level when the ball fell free for him inside the box, but the Real Madrid striker swept his effort the wrong side of the post.

France got their equaliser in the 80th minute and Olise was at the heart of it again, taking the ball to the byline and pulling back for Dembele to stick it low into the bottom left corner.

Extra-time brought more of the same and Livakovic saved twice in quick succession to deny substitute Desire Doue and Mbappe, who missed when one-on-one.

In the shoot-out, Maignan saved from Baturina before Ivanovic ballooned one over the bar, only for France to let the visitors back in when Kounde and Hernandez missed the target.

Stanisic stepped up and was denied by Maignan before Upamecano sealed a dramatic win and a place in the last four where title holders and Euro 2024 winners Spain will be waiting.