Our prediction for this Nations League match:
Croatia
Match Time & Date:
20/03/2025
20:45
Prediction: 1-1
France
All eyes will be on Stadion Poljud when Croatia and France lock horns in the Nations League quarter-finals, first leg. The Croats aim to put an end to their three-game winless run, but they will have to do it without attacking duo Marko Livaja – Bruno Petkovic. Talented St Gilloise striker Franjo Ivanovic is widely expected to lead the line for the hosts. Real Madrid veteran Luka Modric should start as well.
Les Tricolores, on the other hand, aim to build on a 3-1 win over Italy. With Real Madrid ace Kylian Mbappe scoring goals for fun of late and given Croatia’s attacking potential at home, there is a big value in betting on both teams to score. PSG rising star Desire Doue has received his first France call-up, while the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Hugo Ekitike, Kingsley Coman, and Mathys Tel have been left out of the squad.
Highlighted Player (Luka Modric):
Luka Modric is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in world football. The Croatian ace is a product of Dinamo Zagreb’s youth school and it has to be noted that he played 94 league games for the Modri between 2003 and 2008. In 2008 he signed a six-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £16.5 million.
Luka made his Tottenham debut on 16 August, 2008 in a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough at Riverside Stadium. The Croatian star scored only 13 goals in 127 league appearances for the Spurs, but he is well known for his brilliant passing. In 2012 he signed for Real Madrid for a fee of £30 million and he made his debut against Barcelona in the 2012 Spanish Super Cup, return leg.
Modric quickly established himself as a first-team regular and, no doubt, he helped the capital club win two Champions League trophies (2013/2014, 2015/2016). You should bear in mind that he was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2014.
Highlighted Team (France):
Recording impressive results on international stage since 1904, France are widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful national teams, with three major trophies to their name. Two of those were won on home soil as Les Bleus emerged triumphant at the 1984 World Cup and 1998 European Championships, before also winning the 2000 Euros in Netherlands and Belgium.
Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Luis Fernandez and Alain Giresse formed the “Carre Magique” during the 80’s as one of the most impressive attacking line-ups made life difficult for opposition defenders for years on end.
The new golden generation appeared at the turn of the century and featured players like Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, David Trezeguet and Youri Djorkaef, winning back to back major trophies to place Les Bleus back on the map.
A new world-class team appears to be in the making as the likes of Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Raphael Varane are the pillars of the team led by Didier Deschamps. France national team now play their games at the stunning Saint Denis, or Stade de France.
Bulgaria 
Ireland 
Denmark 
Portugal 
Italy 
Germany 
Netherlands 
Spain
Ukraine 
Belgium
Brazil 
Colombia 
