Zagreb (AFP)
After two losses, Croatia notched its first success by beating Sweden 2-1 in Zagreb on Sunday in Group 3 of League A, in the League of Nations, dominated by France and Portugal who face each other in the evening.
Both beaten by the French world champions and the Portuguese European champions in their first two matches, Croatia and Sweden were forced to react in this confrontation at the Maksimir stadium.
In front of a few thousand fervent supporters and in the pouring rain, the Croatian vice-world champions, future opponents of France on Wednesday, opened the scoring thanks to Nikola Vlasic in the 31st minute.
The CSKA Moscow midfielder concluded with a low strike a great collective action born of an interception of Luka Modric.
In the second half the Swedes unsuccessfully claimed a penalty after a hand in the box from Dejan Lovren.
Wanting to ward off a cross from another ... Dejan, Kulusevski, the young Swedish winger from Juventus, Lovren deflected the ball with his hand, narrowly missing his own goalkeeper.
The Swedes ended up equalizing thanks to their captain Marcus Berg, 34, in the 66th minute.
Their first goal in three Nations League games.
But the Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric, who had just come into play, gave the victory to the Croats at the end of the match (2-1, 84th) after a service from Ivan Perisic, already involved in the first goal.
Thanks to their first three points, the Croats leave the last place in the group to the Swedes.
Croatia will receive France on Wednesday, without his midfielder Marcelo Brozovic who received a yellow card and will be suspended.
Sweden will travel the same day to Portugal.
© 2020 AFP