Croatia got a half revenge for the 2-4 loss at Luzhniki Stadium with the draw in Split.
Both goals came in the second half.
At the beginning of the second half, Adrien Rabiot was released in the deep by Ben Yedder.
Rabiot coolly found a gap to the left of Dominik Livakovic in the Croatian goal and made it 1-0 for France.
Ten minutes before the end, Croatia were penalized after a lengthy VAR review.
Andrej Kramaric waited for Mike Maignan in the French goal and put it coolly 1-1.
Modric exchanged for standing ovations
There was a lot to review before the sentences were handed down.
Croatian players were close to offside twice before Kramaric very easily fell in after a contact with Jonathan Clauss who was replaced a few minutes earlier.
A few minutes before the goal, the icon Luka Modric had been replaced by standing ovations from the Croatian fans.
France has started weakly and has only one point after two matches.
They lost the opening match at home against Denmark by 1-2 at the Stade de France in Paris last Friday.