Good evening from Split
Welcome to SunSport’s live coverage of the Nations League match between Croatia and France at Stadion Poljud.
We’re just five months away from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and we are getting a rematch from the 2018 World Cup Final that saw the Tricolores winning the title with a 4-2 victory in Moscow.
France manager Didier Deschamps is expected to return to the dugout after missing last week’s opener with Denmark due to the death of his father.
But Deschamps will be without Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe and Manchester United star Raphael Varane.
Mbappe and Varane limped out of the pitch during the 2-1 loss to the Danes with a knee and thigh injury respectively.
Les Bleus have confirmed that Varane will play no part in any of this month’s Nations League clashes and was replaced by Liverpool ace Ibrahima Konate.
However, there is a chance PSG ace Presnel Kimpembe will be taking the centre-back’s place tonight, while RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku may replace Mbappe.
N’Golo Kante has been sidelined after his season was marred by injury and thus Deschamps may prefer either Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot or Arsenal outcast Matteo Guendouzi.
Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric came off the bench on Friday against Austria, but Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic admitted the midfield maestro won’t be able to complete all four matches this month.
The same goes for Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic, whereas recent Tottenham signing Ivan Perisic is a doubt due to a calf injury.
Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol and Atletico Madrid’s Sime Vraljko were also nursing injuries last week against Austria
