Touched in the left knee since Wednesday and replaced at half-time in the first League of Nations match lost (2-1) against Denmark on Friday at the Stade de France, Mbappé is logically preserved at kick-off, under the heat of the Dalmatia, where the thermometer is around 30 degrees.

The Parisian did not even participate in the warm-up with the other substitutes, but he is still on the score sheet.

Benzema, scorer on Friday, will not have a third straight start in nine days, after his Champions League final on May 28.

Coach Didier Deschamps has largely overhauled his team, with ten changes from the starting "eleven" on Friday and a return to the tactical scheme of the 2018 World Cup, in 4-4-2.

Griezmann is left on the bench, a first after 21 starts in a row, leaving Nkunku and Ben Yedder to animate the attack, supported on the sides by Adrien Rabiot and Moussa Diaby.

As expected, Mike Maignan replaces Hugo Lloris in goal and Presnel Kimpembe wears the captain's armband.

The Parisian is associated with William Saliba in the axis, Benjamin Pavard occupies the right side and Lucas Digne, the left.

In the middle, Mattéo Guendouzi honors his first tenure alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni, the only survivor of France-Denmark.

Karim Benzema greets Luka Modric before the Croatia-France match on June 6, 2022 in Split FRANCK FIFE AFP

N'Golo Kanté will follow the match from the stands, as only 23 players can appear on the match sheet, but Deschamps has called up a group of 24 internationals.

On the Croatian side, Luka Modric celebrates his 150th selection, associated with Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic in the middle.

The checkered selection also lost its first match in Group 1 of League A of the League of Nations against Austria (3-0).

Croatia: Livakovic - Juranovic, Erlic, Vida, Barisic - Modric (cap.), Brozovic, Kovacic - Majer, Budimir, Brekalo

Coach: Zlatko Dalic

France: Maignan - Pavard, Saliba, Kimpembe (cap.), Digne - Diaby, Tchouaméni, Guendouzi, Rabiot - Nkunku - Ben Yedder

Coach: Didier Deschamps

Referee: Marco Guida (ITA)

© 2022 AFP