How Perisic’s Brilliance Shined as Germany’s Last-Minute Fight Saved Italy

Croatia Triumphs Over France in Nations League Quarterfinals

In a thrilling matchup of the Nations League quarterfinals, *Croatia* secured a decisive victory against *France*, winning 2-0. This outcome came as the *Dutch national team* faced off against *Spain*, resulting in a 2-2 draw, allowing Croatia to revel in their success on home turf.

Upcoming Matches and Potential Semifinals

The return leg of the quarterfinals will take place on Sunday. The team that triumphs over the two legs will face the winner of the duel between *Netherlands* and *Spain* in the semifinals. Meanwhile, the other semifinal match is set to feature outcomes from *Italy vs. Germany* and *Denmark vs. Portugal*. In the latter matches, *Germany* notched a 2-1 victory over *Italy*, while *Denmark* managed a narrow win against *Portugal* with a score of 1-0.

Perisic Shines with Goal and Assist

Early in the match, it was evident that France was in for a tough contest as *Ibrahim Konaté* committed a handball in the penalty area. However, even after this opportunity, *Andrej Kramaric’s* penalty kick was thwarted by French goalkeeper *Mike Maignan*. France struggled to find their rhythm, with Croatia consistently posing a greater threat.

Approximately thirty minutes into the match, *Ante Budimir* found the back of the net with a header, skillfully set up by *Ivan Perisic*, who received a precise through ball from *Luka Modric*. Just before halftime, Perisic scored Croatia’s second goal with a well-placed diagonal shot, further solidifying his impact on the game. Despite a few opportunities, including some from *Kylian Mbappe*, France failed to respond effectively to the Croatian onslaught.

Denmark’s Struggling Offense Against Portugal

In another quarterfinal clash, *Denmark* managed 23 shots against *Portugal*, yet they found the net only once. This lone goal came courtesy of striker *Rasmus Hojlund* with just fifteen minutes left in the match, leaving many to wonder how Denmark wasn’t able to convert more of their attempts into goals.

Denmark now heads into the second leg against Portugal with a 1-0 advantage, while the crucial duel between *Germany* and *Italy* will also be contested on Sunday in Dortmund.