Griezmann stars as France beats Croatia 4-2 in WCup repeat

Antoine Griezmann scored one goal and set up ar for defender Dayot Upameca on Tuesday as France std a repeat of World Cup final by beating Croatia 4-2 in Nations League.

Griezmann even passed up chance to double his tally late on by allowing substitute Olivier Giroud to take a penalty for France’s fourth goal.

Giroud is just one goal behind Michel Platini's national record, while Upameca's header was his first. 21-year-old impressed at center half when Leipzig reached Champions League semifinals, and headed in Griezmann's corner midway through second half.

France has won both its games but trails Group 3 leader Portugal on goal difference. Cristia Ronaldo scored both for Portugal in a 2-0 win at Sweden to reach 101 international goals.

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial had a hand in or goals as France overcame a Croatia side which had taken lead through Dejan Lovren's 17th-minute opener.

That goal game after a corner was swung over from right and a headed clearance fell to Lovren on left side of penalty area. Lovren controlled ball with his right foot as he cut inside a defender and n fired a shot into opposite corner with his left.

Martial sprang into action in 43rd, showing great footwork to combine with Wissam Ben Yedder on edge of penalty area before deftly setting up Griezmann’s close-range shot. It was Griezmann’s 31st international goal, moving him level with France great Zinedine Zidane, and a confidence boost considering last Saturday’s penalty miss in a 1-0 win away against Sweden.

Seconds before halftime, Ben Yedder teed up Martial with a pass from right — but his scuffed shot hit post before bouncing back off goalkeeper Dominik Livaković for an own goal.

Poor defending in 55th helped substitute Josip Brekalo grab his first international goal, too. Latching onto a pass from midfield, he held off three defenders before shooting under goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

match went ahead despite striker Kylian Mbappé testing positive for coronavirus on Monday. Paris Saint-Germain star scored France's last goal in World Cup final and netted only goal against Sweden .

Lloris made his 116th appearance to tie center half Marcel Desailly in third place all-time on France's list. Highly-rated midfielder Eduardo Camavinga came on for his debut during second half, becoming youngest player to represent France since second world war at 17 years, 10 months.

He had a shot saved after darting in from right, and Martial wasted two late chances.

Im credits: AP